Growmach Will Open Its Doors for the First Time This Year; Agricultural Technologies Will Shine

The Growmach Tractor, Agricultural Machinery, Equipment & Technologies Fair, organized by Informa, is set to bring together strong domestic and international brands in the sector for the first time from October 10th to 14th this year.

Growmach is not only a technology meeting in the tractor and agricultural machinery sector but also a platform where leading farmers in the sector will share their experiences and visions.

Sencer Solakoğlu, President of the All Milk Meat and Beef Breeders Association (TÜSEDAD) and Founder of FeyzSüt, who stated that the Growmach fair will create new business opportunities for the sector, said that the sector needs to be supported with proper planning, education, and incentives.

Solakoğlu emphasized the importance of productivity and sustainability in the development of the sector, stating that farmers need to be educated about modern farming practices first and foremost.

Emphasizing that advancing technology offers advantages such as cost savings, increased efficiency, and time savings in the agriculture sector, Sencer Solakoğlu highlighted the importance of educating local producers.

Solakoğlu stated that agriculture is one of the country's strategic sectors and said: "Food production, which is one of the most basic needs of people, and the agriculture sector have become even more important. With advancing technology, topics such as minimum soil cultivation or soilless farming systems are being discussed. Methods like liquid fertilization that increase efficiency in agriculture are coming to the forefront. The use of mechanization in agriculture provides cost advantage, increased efficiency, and convenience to farmers. But for this to happen, farmers must be trained. Leaf samples should be taken from plants, and samples should be taken from the soil before and after planting."

EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR MODERN FARMING

Sencer Solakoğlu, who emphasized that modern farming practices offer important opportunities to farmers, continued his words: "The most important requirement of modernization in agriculture is education. When you educate the farmer and they see that the same job can be done at a lower cost, this system will quickly spread. We are trying to explain everything to people; we are sharing our experiences that we have gained over the years. For the country to achieve its goals and reduce farmer losses, innovation and R&D are essential. In Turkey, modern agriculture, cooperatives, and family farming emphasize the spread of these trainings and the use of the right technologies."

Reminding that Feyz Süt, established in 2009, is one of Turkey's top 10 largest farms, Solakoğlu said, "We cultivate approximately 6,400 decares of land in agricultural production. When the births are completed at the end of 2023, we will have a large facility with approximately 4,000 large cattle, milking approximately 60-65 tons of milk daily. This year, at the first Growmach fair to be held, we will also examine the latest technologies. We want to increase our business volume by meeting with many local and foreign companies and producers."

THE IMPORTANCE OF MECHANIZATION IN AGRICULTURE IS INCREASING

Özer Çolpan, who cultivates irrigated and rain-fed agriculture on approximately 13,000 acres of land in 7 different villages in Eskişehir's Alpu district, said that mechanization in agriculture is important for the development of the sector.

Stating that new technologies benefit farmers in conjunction with global warming and changing rainfall patterns, Çolpan expressed that automatic steering system, dosage system in spraying, and drones offer many advantages. He mentioned the importance of using technology in agriculture to address unexpected situations caused by climate change.

Çolpan stated: "We work on approximately 13,000 acres of land. Our biggest problem is that tasks pile up. If you spread your productions at different harvest times, you reduce your risks. Due to climate change, unexpected situations occur for farmers. Therefore, it is necessary to program well and foresee the future. Mechanization is also important for good planning of everything. I bought a drone to be able to look at the field from above. When you enter the field, you cannot see everything. When you look from above, you can see mistakes in irrigation, planting, and fertilization. It is very difficult to control 2,000 acres of land, but with a drone, you can see errors and intervene in time. In the last 20-25 years, the pace of change in everything has increased. This change and digitalization will also open the way for the new generation of farmers. It is important not only to use new technologies but also to use the experiences from the past. Many products and practices that save both money and increase efficiency have entered our lives. I think that the Growmach fair will have an important mission for the sector to closely examine these and establish new connections."

GROWMACH WILL BE AN INTERNATIONAL MEETING POINT

Engin Er, the Fair Director, stated that they are happy to create a new fair with international participation. He emphasized that Growmach will be an important meeting point for agricultural equipment, machinery, and technologies.

Engin Er, who said they are continuing preparations for the important event to be held at Antalya Anfaş Fair Center, stated that international agricultural machinery professionals will have the opportunity to examine the latest technologies in agriculture and new products in agricultural automation at Growmach.

Er also emphasized that Growmach will provide advantages for companies and producers to create new commercial opportunities, saying: "We, as Informa, are proud to organize an international fair in Turkey. Both Turkish and international agricultural machinery and equipment companies have shown great interest in Growmach, and booth sales are continuing very quickly. Both local and foreign companies will reach new markets and increase their turnover by signing new sales connections. With Growmach, we will bring our participants together with sector professionals from the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, Europe, Russia, and the CIS countries. We will introduce visitors to the latest technology and new products."