President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a robust investment plan for Türkiye’s rural sector, promising 18.5 billion liras in rural development support for 2025.

Speaking after an iftar dinner with farmers in Ankara, Erdoğan outlined a comprehensive strategy that leverages both national budget funds and international financing to bolster agriculture and create jobs.

“In 2025, we will provide 18.5 billion liras of rural development support from the budget, supplemented by credit and co-financing assistance from international organizations and institutions,” Erdoğan declared. He emphasized that this initiative would channel approximately 25 billion liras into rural areas, generating employment for 10,000 people. The president underscored his administration’s commitment to revitalizing Türkiye’s countryside through targeted investments.

Beyond the immediate funding, Erdoğan revealed plans to tap into new resources from global financial institutions. These funds will support critical agricultural projects, including flood control, drought prevention systems, rural development, and forestry efforts. “Starting this year, we will provide one billion dollars—or 37 billion liras—in additional grants to our farmers over the next five years,” he added. Notably, $250 million of this aid package is earmarked specifically for the earthquake-affected regions, highlighting a focus on rebuilding and sustaining rural communities hit by natural disasters.

The announcement comes as part of Erdoğan’s broader vision to strengthen Türkiye’s agricultural backbone, a sector vital to the nation’s economy and food security. By blending domestic resources with international support, the government aims to address pressing challenges like climate change and regional disparities while fostering job growth.

Farmers in attendance welcomed the pledge, seeing it as a lifeline for a sector often strained by rising costs and environmental pressures. As Türkiye looks to 2025, Erdoğan’s ambitious plan signals a renewed push to empower rural communities and secure their place in the country’s future. (ILKHA)