Opening Ceremony of the Buckwheat Cultivation and Promotion Project in Muş Ecology
The opening program of the "Buckwheat Cultivation and Promotion in Muş Ecology" project, which will be conducted by our university and supported by the Provincial Administration, was held at the Sabahattin Zaim Conference Hall.
The program was attended by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Fethi Ahmet Polat, Deputy Mayor Abdullah Avcı, Secretary General of the Provincial Administration Şeyhmus Yentür, Director of Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Mehmet Gün, our Vice Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Karadağ, researcher Dr. Ahmet Güneş from Konya Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute, President of the Muş Celiac Association and Muş Alparslan University Celiac and Gluten-Free Nutrition Community, Dr. Züleyha Almaz, Project Coordinator and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Mustafa Yaşar, union presidents, faculty members, students, and producers.
The program began with a presentation by Dr. Mustafa Yaşar, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, introducing the project.
During his presentation, Dr. Yaşar explained the contributions of the project to Muş and the region. He emphasized that with this project supported by the Provincial Administration, they aim to increase the high-value product diversity of farmers in the central district of Muş, Varto, and Bulanık. Yaşar mentioned that buckwheat cultivation in the province would also be a good alternative for beekeepers due to its long flowering period and rich nectar content. He stated that buckwheat, which can be used as feed for small and large livestock and poultry farming, would contribute to the expansion of its agriculture in the province and districts and increase local seed production. Yaşar also highlighted that buckwheat is an important source of food for individuals with celiac disease due to its gluten-free nature.
In her presentation, Dr. Züleyha Almaz, President of the Muş Celiac Association and Muş Alparslan University Celiac and Gluten-Free Nutrition Community, addressed the difficulties faced by celiac patients in their gluten-free diets and highlighted the importance of buckwheat for these patients. Almaz expressed her gratitude on behalf of celiac patients to everyone who contributed to the project.
Prof. Dr. Yaşar Karadağ, in his speech, stated that "This project supported by the Provincial Administration will be carried out in collaboration with the Muş Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, Bulanık and Varto District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, Muş Celiac Association, Konya Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute, and Muş Municipality. The widespread cultivation of buckwheat will contribute to both the national economy and the agricultural economy of Muş province, creating an alternative source of livelihood for farmers and reducing rural-to-urban migration."
Director of Provincial Agriculture and Forestry, Mehmet Gün, stated, "We are honored to be a part of this project. This is a necessity, and there is no price for this need. If children and people need access to this product, there must be a sacrifice. We did not consider the price or value of this project; we believed it was necessary." Gün emphasized the value of buckwheat for producers, mentioning its short growing period, high added value, and its status as a strategic product due to its recent development. He reassured the farmers, saying, "Firsts are special; if the firsts achieve their goals, they will be talked about for years. We have experienced.
The Secretary General of the Provincial Administration Şeyhmus Yentür highlighted the Muş Plain Irrigation Project in his speech, stating, "As the Provincial Administration, we are pleased to be involved in such a project and contribute to it. We allocate significant budgets as the Provincial Administration, so it is truly gratifying to be able to contribute to such a project with a small budget. Hopefully, we will continue to support projects in the future." Yentür concluded his speech by stating that with the Muş Plain Irrigation Project, farmers will experience rapid economic development.
Speaking at the event, our Rector Prof. Dr. Fethi Ahmet Polat stated that with this project, the university will contribute to the literature on buckwheat specifically in the context of Muş, saying, "If we have citizens with celiac disease and as a state, we are taking institutional measures regarding this issue, it is an indication of civilization because civilization lies in the details."
Polat emphasized that the university collaborates with various public institutions, saying, "For example, we signed a European Union project with the Provincial Administration regarding the environmental impacts of climate change. We also have a very important project in which the Provincial Administration has contributed. We had a project on earthquakes in collaboration with DAKA. We recently acquired significant equipment and devices related to earthquakes. The Provincial Directorate of Agriculture is one of the institutions we work with."
Polat expressed his gratitude to our Governor Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Gündüzöz for all the work we have done so far and similar projects, stating, "Because without the initiative of our Governor, we cannot take any steps. No institution can take steps without him. Therefore, the greatest contribution in such projects comes from our Governor. He has supported every project of our university. I also thank our Municipality; I find this study very valuable, and I thank everyone who contributed, especially Professor Mustafa Yaşar."
Following Rector Polat's speech, Deputy Mayor Abdullah Avcı of Muş mentioned the efforts made by the municipality for celiac patients in his speech. Avcı stated that the Muş Municipality is a stakeholder in this project and supports all efforts to grow gluten-free products in the province and deliver them to families. He mentioned that public bread buffets and information centers can actively be used as points of distribution. Avcı said, "We are working together with the Celiac Association to support families. For example, we didn't have gluten-free bread sales points in Muş, so we established them as the municipality. Within the scope of the project we carried out with DAP support, we will establish a culinary training center suitable for the dietary needs of celiac patients. We will continue to do our best for these brothers and sisters."
After the welcoming speeches, Dr. Ahmet Güneş from the Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute in Konya delivered a training presentation on "Buckwheat Cultivation and Agriculture." Following the presentation, our university's Rector, Prof. Dr. Fethi Ahmet Polat, presented a certificate to Mehmet Gün, the Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry. The opening program concluded after the Q&A session.
In the afternoon, the program concluded with the sowing of buckwheat seeds using a seeding machine on a 10-hectare field belonging to the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry in Kümbet Village, Korkut district.
