Developed by the International Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies Studies Association, the Smart Harvest Academy (SHA) is a training, awareness and capacity-building programme designed to strengthen the knowledge, practical skills and technological competencies of young people and women entrepreneurs in the field of climate-smart agriculture.
The overall objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of pioneering young people and women entrepreneurs in Adana, Mersin and Antalya to understand, access and use climate-smart agricultural technologies, while opening new perspectives for green employment, entrepreneurship, innovative agricultural production and technology-based investment opportunities.
The project is designed not only to introduce participants to emerging agricultural technologies, but also to enable them to consider these technologies as potential pathways for future employment, entrepreneurship and investment. The programme will address areas including smart irrigation, agricultural sensors, precision farming, drone applications, greenhouse automation, climate-control systems, fertigation, soilless farming, biological and biotechnical pest management, water and energy efficiency, digital traceability and other climate-friendly agricultural solutions.
Target Groups
The primary target groups of the project include:
- Pioneering young people interested in agriculture, food systems, environmental sustainability and technology,
- Women entrepreneurs already involved in or planning to enter agricultural production and agribusiness,
- Young people seeking new employment opportunities in agricultural technologies,
- Women producers interested in adopting innovative and technology-driven production models,
- Potential entrepreneurs seeking to develop new business and investment ideas in agriculture, food and rural development.
The programme particularly aims to strengthen the participation of women and young people in agricultural transformation, improve their access to technology and create opportunities for them to play a more active role in climate-friendly and green economic activities.
Implementation Provinces
- Adana: The programme will focus on precision agriculture, field crops and citrus production, including smart irrigation, soil and crop sensors, drone-based monitoring, precision fertilisation and early-warning technologies.
- Mersin: Training will focus on greenhouse production, citrus, banana and fresh fruit and vegetable value chains, including greenhouse climate control, fertigation, soilless farming, cold-chain technologies, product traceability and digital production solutions.
- Antalya: The programme will address advanced greenhouse technologies, automation, biological and biotechnical pest management, climate-control systems, water and energy efficiency, soilless production and digital farm management.
Through the Smart Harvest Academy, young people and women will be encouraged to see themselves not only as agricultural producers adapting to climate change, but also as technology users, entrepreneurs and future leaders of the green and digital transformation of agriculture.
