2nd Agricultural Council Results Declaration

November 29–December 1, 2004

1. 1. Inventory of natural resources,
   2. Taking measures to prevent erosion, pollution, and misuse of natural resources,
   3. Protection of genetic resources and biological diversity,
   4. Completion of pasture improvement works,
   5. Enactment of the ‘Soil Protection and Land Use Law’,
   6. Protection of absolute agricultural lands in accordance with land use plans,
   7. Widespread adoption of pressurized irrigation,
   8. Acceleration of consolidation works,
   9. Creation of agricultural basins,
   10. Optimization of farm sizes,
   11. Ensuring the integration of agriculture, industry, and markets,
   12. Meeting the demand for high-quality seeds, seedlings, and saplings primarily through domestic production and encouraging their use,
   13. Developing contract farming,
   14. Widespread adoption of sustainable production techniques and biological control methods,
   15. Establishing quality standards for meat, dairy, and aquatic products and ensuring production complies with these standards,
   16. Encouraging specialized businesses,
   17. Implementing necessary legislation for animal health and welfare, completing control and eradication programs for animal diseases within the next 10 years,
   18. Reviewing the farm-to-table food chain and determining regulatory arrangements and implementation methods that will ensure food safety,
   19. Developing e-agriculture trade,
   20. Regulating agricultural subsidies in a way that contributes to solving structural problems in agriculture,
   21. Reducing the share of direct income support within agricultural subsidies and applying it only to selected products for multiple purposes,
   22. Maximizing premium payments within the framework of WTO rules and converting them to a Differential Payment System when necessary,
   23. Increasing livestock support and ensuring its continuity,
   24. Establishing organized, economically significant livestock enterprises using advanced technology in the long term,
   25. Increasing the share of agricultural subsidies in GDP to 2% within two years and then further increasing it,
   26. Widespread adoption of agricultural product insurance throughout the country and development of life insurance in addition to property insurance,
   27. Enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of those living in rural areas,
   28. Renaming the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in light of its new functions,
   29. Establishing a “Directorate General of Rural Development” under the Ministry,
   30. Preparing a “Rural Development Strategy” by the Ministry, taking into account EU criteria, as envisaged in the national program,
   31. Ensuring that the subject of ‘Agriculture’ is included in the primary education curriculum,
   32. Strengthening cooperation between universities, ministries, the private sector, and civil society organizations in the field of agricultural education and research,
   33. Bringing cooperatives together under a national union with the aim of preventing the fragmented structure of producer organizations,
   34. Completing all necessary administrative structures, primarily the ‘Payment Agency’ required by the EU Common Agricultural Policy,
   35. Strengthening the Ministry’s expert staff in preparation for the negotiation process with the EU,
   36. Ensuring active participation in the World Trade Organization DOHA negotiations and preventing the impact on our sensitive and special products and products that are important in terms of food safety.