EU’s Flagship Rural Development Programme IPARD reaches all of Türkiye: Ceremony held at EU-certified Ali Baba Farm
The farm shines as a model of excellence in the Adana region. Recognised as an EU-approved milk production facility, it stands as a testament to supreme quality and innovation, inspiring producers throughout the region. Producers across Türkiye will now benefit from IPARD support for such facilities.
Türkiye is a Pioneering Country
EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024
Minister İbrahim Yumaklı and Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut
Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, the Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, reflects: “Since its launch in 2011, IPARD has provided €1.4 billion of funding from the EU budget to 25,000 beneficiaries. The seven-year IPARD III, which entered into force in April 2024, has been allocated €430 million from the EU budget. Türkiye is a pioneering country in the implementation of IPARD compared with other candidate countries.”
The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that they aimed to improve the living and working conditions of people in rural areas: “IPARD support is an important part of rural development investment. IPARD prioritises support for women, youth, and producer organisations. To date, 13,575 young and 6,333 female investors have been successfully supported.”
EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024
Minister İbrahim Yumaklı and Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut are feeding the animals
Ali Baba’s oasis
The farm that hosted the launch event is a veritable oasis adorned with lush fruit trees, a gentle stream meandering through its grounds, and a lively scene of children playing alongside friendly animals. Its idyllic ambience evokes more of a secret paradise than a typical working farm.
EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024
The owner of the farm is Ali Acembekiroğlu, also known as Ali Baba
“We established the farm in 2008, with support from the Ministry. Now, the farm has 2,000 cattle, 300 goats and a 500-hectare peach orchard; we practice good farming methods. We produce 18 tonnes of milk every day. We sell 14 tonnes of the milk we produce from house to house in Adana with our hygienic vehicles without breaking the cold chain. 35 people are currently working on the farm, 22 of whom live here in the farm’s accommodation. About 30 children are living on the farm. This place is really both a living space and a great example of exceptional rural development,” says farm owner Ali Acembekiroğlu, also known as Ali Baba.
EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024
Ali Baba with children
Disease-Free Certificate
Set on 1,600 hectares of land, the farm provides a comfortable, peaceful, and natural environment for the livestock it raises. Fodder crops are grown for animals and feed is produced from these crops in integrated facilities located on the farm. The farm is approved by both national and international authorities plus possesses a Disease-Free Certificate. Advanced technology helps to ensure optimal animal health and outstanding produce quality. All products are regularly analysed. The Ali Baba brand produces milk, cheese, eggs, yoghurt, butter, and ice cream.
EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024
Solar panels meet farm's energy needs
Ali Baba’s son-in-law Yunus Çıracı is an industrial engineer who graduated from Boğaziçi University. “We run our farm in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Solar panels on our roof meet our daily energy needs,” he says. The facility is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Rural Development Investment Support Programme, which operates in the field of renewable energy.
EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024
Acembekiroğlu family
With EU support through new IPARD projects, farms and agribusinesses around Türkiye will be able to invest more in modernisation, drawing inspiration from the success of the farms like this.
“We’re like a family”
Ali Baba’s granddaughter, 12-year-old Ayşe Çıracı, loves the farm. “Here, I don’t have to stay at home like in Adana; I am always outside,” she says.
EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024
Ayşe Çıracı, Ali Baba’s granddoughter
Ali Baba’s daughter, Merve Acembekiroğlu Çıracı, has five children, including Ayşe. She reflects: “We all love being on the farm. During the week, we take the children to school in Adana, but during holidays, we come running back to the farm. This is our whole world. Our staff are like family. We overcome all challenges together. We receive our guests together, and we mourn the loss of our animals together. We also rejoice together when children are born on the farm.”
Remzi Elitaş, one of the farm workers, says, “My wife and I are responsible for the calves. We have been working here for 12 years. I have 4 children, 3 of whom were born here. We really are like a family. We work as if it were our own business.”
Hatice Karalı explains: “I have been working in cheese production for two years, and I am very satisfied. I feel like I am working on my own land.”
EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024
Hatice Karalı, Ali Baba Dairy Products worker
Creating Employment
Prof Dr Aykut Gül of the Faculty of Agriculture at Çukurova University notes the importance of successful farms: “This farm is highly significant in terms of employment. Our graduates work there; four of them are agricultural engineers, and five are veterinarians. The farm also contributes extensively to education; our university organises field trips to the farm for example. It resembles a laboratory in terms of cleanliness. Hygiene is essential on the farm. The wheels of the vehicles and the shoes of the people that come in from the outside are always disinfected. I confidently use Ali Baba’s products, and I am delighted with their incredible quality.”
EUROPEAN UNIOIN, 2024
IPARD III in 81 provinces
What is IPARD?
IPARD is a unique EU financial assistance programme for rural development, part of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). It represents a flagship area of cooperation between the EU and Türkiye, financially assisting farmers, rural communities and the agri-food sector in enhancing competitiveness, promoting sustainability and improving rural areas living conditions. IPARD also provides support for new investments and technology plus ensures that European standards are implemented in Turkish agriculture, food processing, and rural businesses.
