Announcement of Turkey Strengthens Agricultural Extension and Research on March 15, 1990

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. * Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 90/61 Contact: Fawzi Rihane (202) 473-2675 TURKEY STRENGTHENS AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND RESEARCH WASHINGTON, March 15, 1990 -- Turkey is set to implement the second phase of a nationwide program to improve agricultural extension and research. The World Bank is supporting the efforts with a $63 million loan. The new phase of the program will upgrade and strengthen extension services in 19 provinces not covered by the first phase of the program, which the World Bank supported with a $72.2 million loan in 1984. The program is expected to increase farm production, improve the quality of agricultural commodities and the health of livestock, boost exports of agricultural goods and raise farmers' incomes. The program will also help reduce pollution and contamination of water and food. The program will improve the implementation and management of provincial extension systems. It will concentrate on increasing extension staff's contact with farmers through construction of staff housing and offices in villages, provision of vehicles, and improved supervision and training. Research institutes will be provided with additional training facilities, vehicles, equipment and training. The project will strengthen links between extension and research agencies and farmers through surveys, establishment of liaison departments in research institutes and regular training workshops for extension personnel. A pilot program to train women farmers will be introduced. Another pilot program will introduce the use of mobile veterinary units to supply livestock health services to villages. Agriculture's contribution to Turkey's gross domestic product has declined from 34 percent in 1965 to 17 percent in 1988, mainly because of rapid industrialization. Still, the sector generates more than 20 percent of the country's export earnings and employs about half of the population. The World Bank loan is.for 17 years, including five years of grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 7.75 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.75 percent on the undisbursed balance. NOTE: Money figures are in U.S. dollar equivalents.