TURKISH AGRI.NEWS

Afghanistan has inked $2.2 billion worth of contracts with China for exporting pine nuts in the next five years, an official said on Monday. Hashmatullah Ghafoori, deputy minister for irrigation and natural resources, told a news conference in Kabul that the contracts have been inked with different Chinese firms for the eventual export of 62,000 tons of pine-nuts. He added this would fetch a much-needed $2.2 billion to Afghan farmers and traders in the said period. Ghafoori also said that additional contracts, worth $9 million, have been inked for the export of pistachio, almond and walnuts. As per the deal, the consignments of these products would be transported via land-route from Afghanistan through the Central Asian states to China. Under President Ashraf Ghani, a former World Bank economist, Afghanistan is pursuing a policy of turning the landlocked country into a hub for transition of goods as well as ideas in the region. Beijing renders full support to Afghanistan in reinvigora...

"Izmir will be the capital of rural development" Speaking at the Bergama Kozak Plateau Festival, which is organized for the second time this year in order to bring Kozak Plateau to tourism, İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer said that they aimed to make İzmir the capital of rural development. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, which carries out important works for development of Bakırçay Basin and opening of Kozak Plateau to nature and plateau tourism, organized Kozak Plateau Festival with Bergama Municipality. In Kozak Kermes Area, 110 producers both introduced their local products and generated revenue from sales. Tomatoes, grapes and pine nuts grown in Kozak Plateau, as well as honey, jam and pine nuts desserts were offered great interest. In his opening speech, the Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyer said that his basic visions are to increase the potential of the region with the correct, functional and nature-friendly policies towards agriculture...