The Effect of the Roughage Production Project on Forage Crops Agriculture in Kırşehir

This study aimed to determine the effects of the Roughage Production Project on forage crop agriculture, which was carried out to introduce and extend forage crops to the region's producers and show how to produce cheap and high-quality roughage. In the research, a mixture of 70% Hungarian vetch and 30% triticale was grown on the lands of farmers selected from the region's producers, especially those engaged in animal production, during growing seasons between 2018 and 2024. Because forage crop agriculture is not sufficiently developed in the region, in the production carried out within the project's scope, one-on-one application was made to the producers in the field in all processes from planting to harvest. During the project, 1363 tons of quality roughage was produced on the areas of 6270 decares with 67 producers in seven production seasons. The Roughage Production Project practices have contributed not only to seed and fertilizer support for the producer but also to a change of habits through technical support provided at every stage of production, to producers' willingness to cultivate forage crops, and to the development of forage crop culture with mixtures created with species and varieties suitable for the ecology of the region. As a result, the Roughage Production Project has made a significant contribution to raising regional producers' awareness of producing their own quality roughage and establishing forage crop culture.