In collaboration with KAGİDER and Migros, the 'Women Entrepreneur Development and Acceleration Program in Agriculture' held its fourth edition on December 9-10, 2023, in Istanbul. The intensive two-day training camp hosted 65 women entrepreneurs, out of whom 15 were selected to receive mentorship support for one year. Additionally, Migros will offer sales opportunities in its stores across Türkiye to all participating entrepreneurs who produce in accordance with quality standards.

The program, aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector, has been organized for four years through the partnership between Migros and KAGİDER. The two-day camp, held on December 9-10, 2023, in Istanbul, covered a wide range of topics including general economics, finance access, food security, and branding processes, tailored for 65 women entrepreneurs active in agriculture for a minimum of one to a maximum of three years.

On the first day of the camp, sessions on Financial Resources and Access to Finance, as well as New Markets in Agriculture, were conducted following the opening speeches. The second day featured sessions by experts in Leadership, Building a Brand, Agricultural Law and Geographical Indications, Quality Processes, Sustainability, Financial Management, Agricultural Technologies, and Sales Techniques. To inspire the participants, a Role Model session was held where successful women entrepreneurs in agriculture shared their stories and answered questions from the attendees.

During the closing ceremony, KAGİDER President Esra Bezircioğlu emphasized the association's strong commitment to the agricultural sector. Bezircioğlu continued:

"Agriculture remains the sector where women's labour is most intensive yet least visible. Globally, women constitute 43% of the agricultural workforce. Despite forming the backbone of agricultural production, women's labour remains invisible due to unequal and unfair working conditions. Empowering women in agricultural decision-making processes and enhancing their decision-making and implementation skills are crucial. Education activities for women farmers are therefore of great importance in developing their production and marketing competencies, personal development, accessing resources, and utilizing them, as well as reducing gender inequalities. We need to increase the presence of women in the sector, especially in entrepreneurship, to enhance the value added by agriculture in Türkiye and contribute to its development. In this regard, our 'Women Entrepreneur Development in Agriculture' program, conducted in collaboration with Migros for four years, is highly significant. The increasing number of applications each year demonstrates the impact of our efforts. I would like to thank Migros once again for their partnership."

Ekmel Baydur, Executive Board Member Responsible for Marketing at Migros Group, highlighted the importance of supporting the entrepreneurship ecosystem, empowering women across all fields, and encouraging their participation in the economy. Baydur stated:

"At Migros, supporting women entrepreneurs in agriculture and helping them turn their dreams into reality alongside KAGİDER is a top priority for us. We share the necessary teachings for the career journeys of women entrepreneurs who participate in our program and introduce innovative and quality products that meet our standards to consumers in our stores nationwide. We stand by all women producers. Supporting women cooperatives, particularly for regional development, is also among our priorities. We organize classroom trainings for women cooperatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Migros Women's Academy, and conduct MEB-approved certified agricultural trainings with our Family Clubs in cooperation with District Public Education Centres. Especially this year, we conducted an important workshop to understand the needs and expectations of women engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry in earthquake-affected regions. We continue our efforts without slowing down, with a special focus on women cooperatives in the region. I believe that we will witness the successful outcomes of our 'Women Entrepreneur Development and Acceleration Program in Agriculture' for many years to come. I am delighted to see more and more women entrepreneurs branding and entering the national market through this project we have been conducting with KAGİDER for four years. Together with our women entrepreneurs, I am confident that we will further expand our ecosystem."