TİKA Provides Sheep to Farmers in the TRNC

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) started to distribute sheep to farmers in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as part of the program it launched.

253 Awassi sheep, which were brought by TİKA to the TRNC in September 2020 and put into quarantine, started to be delivered to farmers. Awassi sheep can live in the climate in the TRNC, and its milk can be used to make halloumi. The sheep brought from the State Breeding Farm were delivered to eligible farmers who applied and received training.

The delivery ceremony was attended by Ersan Saner, Prime Minister of the TRNC; Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the TRNC; Ali Murat Başçeri, Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia; Havva Pınar Özcan Küçükçavuş, TİKA’s Nicosia Program Coordinator; officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the TRNC; and farmers.

“I think it will create a very important database”

In his speech at the delivery ceremony, Prime Minister Saner stated that they were at the beginning of a turning point for the development of sheep and goat farming in the country and that 253 sheep brought to the TRNC through TİKA would be delivered to breeders. Pointing out the importance of increasing production, Saner said, “We all know that our country’s level of income can increase as production increases. This pilot project, which will be launched in Karpas, the most suitable region for livestock farming in our country, will create a very important database for the steps we will take in the livestock sector in the future.”

Saner remarked that during his visit to Turkey on December 23, 2020, they mentioned the importance of the sheep and goat farming project carried out with TİKA and launched efforts with Fuat Oktay, Vice President of the Republic of Turkey, to bring 5,000 other animals for breeding to the country.

Noting that halloumi was one of the most important delicacies of the TRNC, Saner stated that they aimed to register halloumi made in the TRNC as a trademark in the European Union with the initiative they will launch with the Office of the President soon.

“20 ewes and one ram for breeding were provided to each breeder”

Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Çavuşoğlu stressed that on that day, they did not only distribute sheep but also introduced a new vision in the TRNC. Noting that there were delays in raising animals for breeding, the registration of halloumi as a trademark, and the introduction of productive animal breeds to the country, despite being discussed for years, Çavuşoğlu said, “Thankfully, Turkey, our homeland, provided 9 breeders with 20 ewes and one ram each for breeding through TİKA in order to support us in this field, as it does in every other field. Thus, we have launched this process. More will come.”

“TİKA’s pilot projects will continue with a broader scope in the TRNC”

In his speech at the ceremony, Ambassador Başçeri stated that it was very important for countries to become self-sufficient in the agricultural sector. Noting that livestock farming is an important field of agriculture in the TRNC, Başçeri added that TİKA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the TRNC implemented this pilot project in order to increase the sheep and goat population in the country, as has been discussed for many years. Başçeri said, “TİKA’s pilot projects will continue with a broader scope in the TRNC. I hope TİKA will continue to increase the sheep and goat population by providing larger numbers of animals.”