Soybean, which was planted for the second time this year in Bolu, was harvested. The cultivation areas of soybean, which is rich in protein and one of the strategic herbal products that feed the world, are increasing in our province. Making a statement on the subject, Bolu Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry İzzet Murat;
Our Goal is to Increase Soybean Plantation Areas
"Within the scope of the alternative plant production project in our province, we continue soybean cultivation, which we started in 2019 and provided 100% support by our Special Provincial Administration, with 6 farmers, increasing from 50 decares of cultivation to approximately 70 decares in 2020. In this context, we are harvesting the soybeans planted in Okçular, Örencik, Tatlar, Çatakören, Sultanköy, Çayırköy and Doğancı villages today. Our goal is to increase the cultivation areas of soybean by providing free seed support to our producers in 2021.
Soybean is the Main Protein Source of Animal Production
Soybean, which has a wide range of uses, is used as animal feed and industrial raw material besides its use as food. Since soy protein is the closest protein to animal protein and has a very high biological value, it is used as a protein source especially in the rations of poultry, ovine, dairy and beef cattle.
Our Poultry Companies Guarantee Purchase
When the potential of our province in poultry production is evaluated, it is seen that we are in a central position in our country. Therefore, we need a large amount of soy in the production of compound feed needed by the poultry sector. However, since soy production is insufficient in our country, we are net importers. This situation puts soybean production in a strategic position in our province as well as in our country. With the soybean demonstrations we have been implementing for two years, very good results have been obtained in yield and quality in our province. Our average yield this year was 385 kg per decare. In addition, the existing feed factories established in our province purchase the soybean product produced by the farmers directly and at affordable prices. This year, the kilogram of soybean was sold by our farmers to our feed factories at 4 TL. At this point, I would also like to thank our feed factories that buy our farmer's product at an affordable price with a purchase guarantee.
Rehabilitating Tired Soils
Another benefit of soybean cultivation is that it is one of the most suitable plants for crop rotation. Soybean, which is a plant that fixes nitrogen by regulating the soil structure, is an alternative to potatoes, which have been cultivated in our province for many years. With the inclusion of soybean cultivation in the rotation, the structure of our tired soils will improve and their productivity will increase.
Our State Provides Serious Support to Soybean Production
Another issue that makes soybean cultivation necessary and advantageous is that soybean is highly supported by our government due to the insufficiency of soybean production in our country and because it is a strategic product. In our province this year, soybean is included among the products for which basin-based differential payment support is provided. This is a very important support item. Although this year's support figures are not yet known, the basin-based premium support for soybean last year was 60 kurus per kilogram, which amounts to 600 liras for a ton. In other words, from a soybean field with a yield of 385 kg per decare, the total support is 261 TL, including 231 TL premium support and 30 TL diesel fertilizer support, and the amount of support that this farmer will receive from 22 decares will reach 5,742 TL. Let me reiterate that these figures are last year's support figures and are expected to increase for 2021.
We Exist as Much as We Produce
I especially recommend our farmers to plant soybean, which is highly supported by our state, has high profitability and rehabilitates the soil. Let's not forget that we exist as much as we produce. In this context, I would like to thank our Governor Ahmet ÜMİT, our Special Provincial Administration and our council members on behalf of my institution, myself and our producers. I wish the productive farmers of the productive Bolu a good harvest. May the harvest of our producers be abundant and their earnings be abundant."