Female farmer expands strawberry production to 6 decare with KDAKP

In the Daday district of Kastamonu, an initiative launched within the scope of the Rural Disadvantaged Areas Development Project (KDAKP) conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry turned into a great success story in a short time. The 1-decar demonstration strawberry garden, established with the project supported by 100% grant in 2024, revealed the potential in the region. Benefiting from this support and turning the project into an opportunity, female entrepreneur Yücel Çıkırık used the experience and knowledge gained here as a stepping stone to expand her production area sixfold with her own means. The garden, initially established as a small area, turned into a total 6-decar production area over time with Çıkırık's persistence and hard work. This development proved that the support provided within the scope of the project is not just temporary aid, but a strong starting point for a sustainable agricultural development model.

Yücel Çıkırık's success serves as an important reference for other producers engaged in agriculture in the region. This production model realized in Kızılörencik Köyü Afurözü Mahallesi of Daday district constitutes a concrete example of how female entrepreneurship can be strengthened in rural areas. It clearly shows how projects like KDAKP, designed for the development of rural disadvantaged areas, can yield scalable results when implemented correctly and adopted by the producer. Çıkırık expanding the grant-supported demonstration garden with her own capital and labor is also a source of inspiration for other female farmers. This situation reveals the contribution of state supports combined with private entrepreneurship to the rural economy. The success of this female farmer is considered not only a personal gain but also a harbinger of a regional agricultural movement.

The success story was examined on site The observer success achieved in the production area attracted the attention of official authorities and became the subject of field visits. Many officials, including Consultant to the Minister Ali Bayraktaroğlu, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Ahmet Kılıç, Provincial Director of National Education Hasan Gümüş, Provincial Director of Trade İbrahim İriş, and Daday Mayor Selahattin Yanık, visited the strawberry garden to conduct examinations. Daday AK Party District President Ziya Kabakçı, Daday Chamber of Agriculture President Levent Uğuzbalaban, and Daday District Director Engin Kocaoğlu also accompanied the visit with technical personnel. This crowded delegation both saw the production facility on site and received detailed information from Yücel Çıkırık about the studies carried out. The visit ensured the highest level confirmation of the role of women in the agricultural sector and the success of rural development projects. The presence of officials in the field reinforced the importance and success of the project officially.

Tiny students picked strawberries During the visits to the strawberry garden, not only bureaucratic inspections were made, but also a social event was held. Tiny students from Halime Çavuş Special Education Kindergarten also participated in the program, finding the opportunity to meet agriculture. Children, meeting with nature and soil, experienced picking fresh strawberries from the branch and enjoyed the harvest. The happiness of the special students tasting fresh strawberries added colorful and joyful moments to the event, showing the positive effect of agriculture on human psychology. It was stated that such events are of great importance in terms of instilling agricultural consciousness at an early age. The presence of children in the agricultural area helps create a consciousness of the value of production in them, while showing that the female farmer's production area also functions as an education area. The experience of the visited school students constituted a beautiful example of the cooperation of agricultural fields with educational institutions.

It set an example for female entrepreneurship in rural areas KDAKP projects aiming for rural development in Kastamonu generally focus on increasing the participation of female entrepreneurs in economic life. The event experienced in Daday stands out as one of the most concrete proofs of this intended goal. Female farmer Yücel Çıkırık's transformation of the 1-decar grant-supported starter garden into a 6-decar commercial production area gives hope and inspiration to other women wishing to engage in production in rural areas. This success story proves that women can be successful not only as agricultural workers but also as operators and managers. While other producers supported under KDAKP are expected to show similar successes, the Daday example presents an achievable roadmap to this goal. Thus, supporting female entrepreneurship is seen as an important part of the big picture planned to increase employment in rural areas and ensure sustainable development.