Abstract

In the first years of the republic, in 1925, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established a farm that is currently called Atatürk Forest Farm (AFF). Atatürk managed the AFF and all the other farms by himself in 1937; AFF adhered to Government Agricultural Management Association. In 1950, AFF was bounded to Government Production Farms and it reached its identity today. In 1998, Natural Resources Protection Committee’s 5742 numbered decision declared AFF as a first degree protected area. The most important objectives of AFF are to carry the importance of agriculture according to Atatürk, his love to nature and agriculture plays an important role in development and employment to next generations. AFF’s capital is 500.000 TL and is emloying 430 employees workers. Around 31% of the farm land is used for agricultural activities, and barley, wheat, pasteurized milk, yoghurt, awhey, ice cream and cheese are being produced. AFF finances itself from the sources that are out of its main activities. AFF relationship with the cooperatives especially takes place during buying raw milk. 3% of the milk is produced by AFF and the rest as ‘service support to villages associations’ which are a part of the local governments and also from the development cooperatives which are managed by major milk dealers. 

Key words: Atatürk forest farm’s, management, cooperatives.