On September 25 and 26, 2020, the first meeting of the project "Save Nature to Save the Future" was held. The project is co-financed by the European Union through the Cross-Border Cooperation Program INTERREG - IPA Bulgaria - Turkey 2014 - 2020, and partners are Agricultural Chamber - Merich and Association KRIB Haskovo.
The team of KRIB Haskovo met with the hosts of the Chamber of Agriculture - Meric at the first partnership meeting of the project to discuss the implementation of activities. On September 26, the two sides held a working meeting to clarify the details of the inaugural opening press conference, the preparation of the soil survey, the organization of training for farmers and others. An important topic in the talks was the implementation of the project activities in the pandemic emergency situation in both countries.
An official opening conference on the project was held on September 28, 2020 in Meric. During the event, the teams acquainted the public in the region with the goals and activities of the development. The moderator was Prof. Ahmet Atakishi, a lecturer at the Thracian University, who presented the project in summary. More information about the activities on "Save nature to save the future" was given by Prof. Murat Türkelmaz, Vice-Rector of the Thracian University - Edirne and Project manager.
The project aims to protect the soils in the cross-border regions of Bulgaria and Turkey. Under a project in Meric, Edirne, a Center for recycling plastic boxes, which are a major polluter in the region, will be built, a study of the state of soil resources and soils will be conducted, as well as training for 25 farmers, he added. The hosts also gave the floor to Stefan Dimitrov, regional chairman of KRIB Haskovo, who clarified that in Dimitrovgrad are also set such activities, but instead of the Center for recycling plastic boxes, an electronic laboratory is already equipped. Thanks to this, it will be possible to determine the nutrient needs of the soils in Haskovo district, to help the proper fertilization and the achievement of optimal yields. Through the equipped laboratory it will be possible to perform a complete agrochemical analysis of soils, which includes: determination of soil acidity; specific electrical conductivity; mineral nitrogen; assimilate potassium; phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, organic matter / humus / and trace elements. Farmers in the region will use the laboratory to determine the needs of the soils in their lands, Stefan Dimitrov said during a press conference in Meric.