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Support
HasNa Program Quick Links
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Agriculture is the most significant source of income in southeastern Turkey. Therefore, improving farming and irrigation techniques plays a crucial role in developing the region. HasNa’s agricultural programs aim to reach diverse groups of farmers in the region through technical training and conflict resolution so that they may increase productivity on their farms and utilize conflict resolution training in their communities. By reaching out to diverse groups in the agriculture sector, HasNa is strengthening southeast Turkey’s human capital and promoting self-sustainability. HasNa’s first program in Turkey provided water engineers with conflict resolution training as well as technical training. The participants were so pleased with the skills they had learned and the changes that could be made that they requested that HasNa next train the chairmen of their water associations in 2005. Irrigation is only one component of the agricultural system and so, in 2006, HasNa decided to build on its success in training the water engineers and next provided training for farm extension workers. Farm extension workers play an integral role in educating farmers on new cultivation practices. In 2007, HasNa chose to take farmer education one step further by reaching out to farmers in southeast Turkey that were identified as leaders in their communities by GAP. Following the training, HasNa hopes that these farmers will use their leadership positions to convince other farmers in their communities to experiment with new techniques and crops and also use the conflict resolution training to promote healthy relationships in their communities. Pistachio Farmers Training Program 2010
Challenge In Southeastern Turkey, agriculture is the only source of income for many poor farmers. Nevertheless, the climate in the region is ideal for growing many agricultural products, including pistachios. Farmers have been cultivating the plant in Turkey for centuries; however traditional pistachio cultivation techniques in Turkey are outdated, leaving many pistachio producers at a disadvantage in the marketplace. To illustrate, a 25-30 year-old pistachio tree in Turkey yields an average of 15 pounds of pistachios per year, whereas a tree in the U.S. yields 40-44 pounds! Solution
Summary
In California, the program focused exclusively on pistachio production and processing. HasNa worked with the University of California’s Kearney Agricultural Research Center near Fresno, CA to design a training program that addressed every stage of pistachio production. Experts in the field shared their knowledge and experience during a week filled with in-depth seminars on growing and harvesting pistachios and visits to pistachio orchards, nurseries and processing plants. Washington, DC
California
Desired Impact
Leader Farmer Training Program
In 2007, HasNa hosted its first Leader Farmer Training Program. This program brought seven farmers and three GAP (Southeastern Anatolian Project) officials, one of whom is also a farmer, from southeastern Turkey to the United States to learn new farming, irrigation and marketing techniques. During their two week visit, the participants received conflict resolution and communication skills training from the Center for Dispute Settlement and learned new farming methods through visits to farm enterprises in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. These farm extension visits sought to encourage farmers to experiment with new crops and to teach the participants new farming methods to improve their yield, plant quality, and productivity. The professional skills training, which was led by Dale Johnson of the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has already shown a tremendous impact on the participants’ approach to farming. There has also been a marked impact on the farmers’ local communities, as each farmer has taken what they learned during the HasNa training session and shared it with his neighbors. Farm Extension Workers Training Program
Recognizing the need to take a more comprehensive approach to agricultural education, HasNa conducted its first Farm Extension Workers Training Program in 2006. Farm extension workers are integral members of agricultural development in southeastern Turkey. The eleven participants were agricultural engineers who had previously been contracted by the Turkish government to identify problems that local farmers face in the region and advise them on how to solve such problems. The objective of the training was to improve the farm extension workers’ professional capabilities and provide them with conflict resolution skills that would assist them in their professional and personal lives. The technical training was led by Dale Johnson, a farm extension specialist from the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Topics included extension educational programming and evaluation techniques, implementing new teaching techniques, and how to plan farmer field days. Because the farm extension workers’ success centers on their ability to work effectively with and educate farmers, it is essential that they be able to resolve conflicts which will inevitably arise. The conflict resolution training focused on improving communication skills which will help build trust between farmers and the extension workers. Water User Association’s Chairmen Training Program
The group spent one week in Washington, DC, studying conflict resolution and leadership skills and met with a representative of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to learn the history of water distribution in the United States. They then traveled to Los Baños, California where they spent one week with representatives of the San Luis Delta-Mendota Water Authority and studied irrigation technology. Not only did the chairmen have the opportunity to acquire knowledge on new sustainable agriculture techniques and broaden their horizons by seeing how the water management in California works, but they also learned conflict resolution techniques that will help them in their professional and personal lives. Southeast Anatolia Water Resource Management Project
In 2000, HasNa began a long-term project aimed at improving the effectiveness of Water User Associations (WUA) in the Sanliurfa region of Turkey. The Southeast Anatolia Water Resource Management Project brings diverse groups of irrigation and agricultural engineers to the United States for training in water management, sustainable agriculture, farmer outreach, managerial skills and conflict resolution skills. HasNa focuses on training young adults because they have the greatest potential to become influential members in their communities. The program was expanded in 2002 to focus on the training of water engineers in conflict resolution and management skills. Feedback from participants has consistently been high, describing the HasNa training as a “life transforming” experience. In response to such feedback, our program in 2005 hosted all nine chairmen of the WUAs in the Sanliurfa province. Topics addressed during training include:
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HasNa
Inc., founded in 1998, is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
based in Washington, D.C. |
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In June 2010, HasNa welcomed six pistachio farmers, two government officials, and two farm extension workers to its Pistachio Farmers Training Program 2010. The program exposed the participants to modern pistachio farming techniques in the U.S., which they will be able to use to improve their pistachio yield when they return to Turkey. Another one of our program goals is bringing people together from diverse backgrounds to promote cross-cultural understanding. To accomplish this goal we design programs that empower individuals and teach them new skills to get them to cooperate and work together, which was the case with this program.
The two-week program began in Washington, DC on June 6th and finished in California on June 18th. In DC, the farmers had opportunities to explore the potential benefits of farm cooperatives, develop their abilities to resolve conflicts, improve their business marketing skills, and go on cultural tours. 
The 2010 program exposed the participants to modern techniques that will help them improve their productivity, yields, profit margins, and their livelihoods. Ultimately, participants were equipped with the knowledge and skills to share what they learned with other farmers to help them improve their productivity as well upon their return to Turkey. This will increase the impact of the training from just the individuals to the entire region. Participants developed and presented in-depth action plans at the end of the program to achieve these goals:
