International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation

IBC HAS COMPLETED THE INVESTMENT OF FRUIT PROCESSING FACILITY IN POSOF-TURKEY AND EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTION STARTED

An important investment was realized in Posof County of Ardahan Province, which has long been experiencing high volume of outwards immigration due to unemployment and economic difficulties. A fruit processing facility was established in the County, in order to process tons of fruits grown in an organic manner, which were previously left to decaying without receiving any economic gains. The facility, where the assemblage of equipments was completed and experimental production was realized recently, was established by International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation in the scope of Ardahan and Its Vicinity Economic and Social Development Project funded by BTC Pipeline Co.
Posof Fruit Processing factory started to operate	In Posof Fruit Processing Factory production of jam is organised
It is worthwhile to study the establishment story of the facility from many perspectives as this facility was established not on the basis of an incentive of an entrepreneur or public authority, but was established through a process, which has taken the needs and expectations of local people into account and where the local people actively participated. Even though the economic potential of the facility is of out most importance, International Blue Crescent has undertaken the process from a wider perspective. Although IBC's main aim is to realize an increase in people's economic standards, through this type of investment IBC has reached a point beyond its aim.
The methodology followed by the Foundation provided opportunity for the community to build ownership of the project and build up self-reliance among the community for them to meet their own needs. By means of above mentioned methodology it was proven to the community that they themselves can realize important studies in identifying their own problems and needs, in finding unique solutions appropriate for the conditions and in implementing correct strategies. The fruit processing facility widely supported by the community and the local authorities was established with the idea of realizing the idle fruit potential of the Posof County and integrating this potential with the market. In the preparation phase of the community investment program, which has been started to be implemented in the second half of 2003 in Ardahan and its vicinity, IBC experts and board of directors has undertaken a comprehensive study.	All fruits processed in Posof are organic
In order to increase the efficiency of the functioning of the facility, many criteria including the fruit types grown in the region, fruit production capacity, cost analysis, marketing opportunities and management of the facility was taken into account. The facility established by IBC and the community, will be operated by the Posof Agricultural Development Cooperative under the supervision of IBC until the end of 2005. After this date, once the necessary conditions are ripe within the Cooperative, the Foundation will transfer the facility to the Posof Cooperative. Yet, the Foundation will monitor the sustainability of the facility. Strong ownership of the facility created among the board of directors of the Cooperative and the community, is providing important indication about the positive future of the facility. Fruits like apple, pear and plum as well as herbal plants such as rose hip, grown specifically in the villages of Posof near the Georgian border, will be processed at the facility. Processing will include jam and marmalade production. In addition fruits will be dried and will be marketed as dried fruits. Furthermore, in order to diversify the product range of the facility, a honey processing unit was donated to the facility by a local businessman. The opening ceremony of the facility, where the experimental production was successfully realized, will take place shortly.
	Added: 20/10/2004