We are implementing Co-Production: Solidarity Through Cooperativism (CO-COOP) project Supported by ENHANCER Project, which is funded by European Union and implemented by ICMPD in corporation with Directorate General for Regional Development Agencies under Minitry of Industry and Technologies. This project aims to strengthen a culture of collaborative production, create sustainable employment led by women, and strengthen social cohesion starting from the local level.
As Seydikoop Women Producers Agricultural Development Cooperative, we have believed in the power of land, labor, and solidarity since the day we were founded. At a time when rural production is becoming increasingly challenging, input costs are rising, and producers—especially those engaged in livestock farming—are facing serious difficulties, we recognized that it is not enough to produce alone; it is essential to strengthen ways of producing together.
Supported by ICMPD under the ENHANCER Program, the Co-Production: Solidarity Through Cooperativism (CO-COOP) project was born directly from this need.
With this project, we aimed to address feed costs, one of the most critical challenges facing livestock farming in Seydişehir. By producing silage from Lenox and Jeglava forage crops, we sought to ensure local dairy producers’ access to high-quality and affordable feed. We know that quality feed directly affects not only animal productivity but also farmers’ income and their motivation to remain in rural areas.
Through the silage we produce, we aim to increase milk productivity, reduce the cost burden on producers, and strengthen local livestock farming.
However, this project is not only an agricultural production initiative for us; it is also a story of employment and solidarity. Throughout the project period, we are creating registered and sustainable employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups, particularly women, young people, and Syrians under Temporary Protection.
While creating six new jobs, we are building a cooperative model based on working, learning, and producing together. Through the training programs we organize, we strengthen not only the skills of our employees but also those of our cooperative members and local farmers. These trainings—covering soil management, silage production, irrigation, fertilization, and eco-sustainability—leave a long-term knowledge base that supports sustainable agriculture in the region.
The CO-COOP project represents a major turning point for our cooperative. Through this project, we are increasing our production capacity, strengthening our machinery and equipment infrastructure, and placing our cooperative’s institutional structure on a more solid foundation. With the production of approximately 1,000 tons of silage, we are both increasing cooperative revenues and taking a significant step toward building a self-sustaining and resilient economic structure.
At the same time, the representation of our women members within the cooperative and their effectiveness in decision-making processes are being strengthened. Women’s labor is becoming visible not only in production, but also in management.
Within the scope of the project, a total of six new jobs were created, with priority given to women, young people, and Syrians under Temporary Protection. These employments enabled the cooperative’s production and field activities to be carried out continuously and without interruption.
Through registered employment, both social inclusion was strengthened and the cooperative’s operational capacity was increased. In particular, the growth in women’s employment created a structure aligned with the cooperative’s founding purpose and made women’s labor more visible in both production and decision-making processes.
Within the scope of the project, a project coordinator and a project assistant were employed to manage administrative tasks. In addition, four field staff members were recruited.
The planting, cultivation, harvesting, and ensiling processes of Lenox and Jeglava forage crops were carried out by the cooperative, and approximately 1,000 tons of silage were produced during the project period.
Through this production under the project, the cooperative established a concrete presence in the livestock sector and became able to directly respond to local producers’ demand for quality feed. Silage production enabled the cooperative to specialize in agricultural production while contributing to experience gained across all stages of the value chain, from production to marketing.
The produced silage was distributed to local livestock farmers at affordable prices. Through this activity, the cooperative’s revenues increased and a regular sales model was established. The direct sales relationship built with local producers strengthened the cooperative’s reliability and visibility in the field.
Soil Management and Fertilization Training
Theoretical and practical trainings were delivered to cooperative members, project staff, and local farmers on silage production, agricultural maintenance practices, irrigation and fertilization, harvesting and ensiling techniques, as well as sustainable agriculture.
Through these trainings, the technical knowledge and skill levels of approximately 50 participants were increased. The training activities contributed to the cooperative becoming not only a production-oriented organization, but also a structure that generates and disseminates knowledge. In the long term, this accumulation of knowledge provided a lasting benefit by directly improving the cooperative’s production quality and field effectiveness.