Turkey to grant $210 million to rural development: Minister

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Turkey will spend some 841 million Turkish Liras ($210 million) on a total of 2,723 rural development projects, Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba stated on March 28.

Fakıbaba said the ministry’s program aimed to ensure the protection of natural resources and the environment, increasing income levels in rural areas, increasing agricultural production, enhancing agricultural marketing, and strengthening food security.

A total of 3.4 billion liras ($851 million) had been spent on rural development since 2006, providing jobs for 68,000 people, the statement also added.

“Without rural development, the country’s development is not possible. In accordance with this understanding, our support to our producers and to the sector will continue in order to ensure development in the rural area,” Fakıbaba said.