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History |
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Atatürk Central Horticultural Research Institute is situated on a long shore strip in the south-east of the Sea of Marmara. Located within the borders of the province of Yalova, the Institute is very close to such cosmopolitan cities as Ýstanbul, Kocaeli and Bursa. The region has considerable potential for production and consumption. The land was originally purchased and owned by Atatürk in 1929 in attempt to ensure competent and efficient agricultural development in the region and in the country to implement modern agrotechnological methods and to familiarize farmers with the most recent technology. The land was named “Millet Farm” by Atatürk who always showed a keen interest in Yalova. In fact, he loved the city so much that stated once “Yalova is my town”. He engaged in all agricultural activities taking place on the farm and managed it in person until 11 May 1938. He donated his farm to the public sector in 1938 with all the properties, which subsequently turned over to the “State Agricultural Farm Management” under the Legislation Act numbered 3308. In 1950 by the Legislation Act No. 5433, the farm was owned by the “General Directorate of State Production Farms” and succeedingly by the “General Directorate of Agricultural Affairs” in 1952. Under the same directorate, the land was separated from its sister farm “Baltacý” and became the permanent location of the Institute which was officially founded on 9 March 1962 under the name “Yalova-Regional Horticultural Research Institute”. The Institute’s name has been changed several times under the policy of the Ministry and the previous names and effective years are listed below : 1961-1968 Regional Horticultural Research Institute 1968-1972 Horticultural Research and Training Center 1972-1981 Horticultural Research Institute 1981-1986 Atatürk Horticultural Research Institute
The Institute has served as the “Central Research Institute” taking the responsibility of the priorities, principles, programming and budgeting of country-wide research activities in the areas of planning, programming, projecting and their implementations upon decision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs dated on 01.08.1986, and hereafter named as “Atatürk Central Horticultural Research Institute”. |
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