Stating that it is important to protect the local resources of the TRNC, and that wastewater should be reused, especially in agriculture, by pointing out the need to take precautions and be prepared against unexpected situations in the future, President Tatar said, “One day, water will be more valuable than oil. Protection of water is of great importance all over the world.” In his speech, President Tatar said that the importance of food production has emerged once again, especially during the pandemic process, and pointed out the necessity of protecting water resources against any problems that may occur in food production.

Referring to the importance of protecting our water resources and evaluating the issue with scientific contributions among the steps to be taken towards population growth as the TRNC develops further in different areas, President Tatar stated that it is necessary to get more efficiency with species changes in agriculture when the time comes and to keep up with the dynamic world.

Reminding that they made a proposal to the Greek side through the United Nations in order to share Anatolian water after consulting with the Republic of Turkey when there was an agreement on the basis of sovereignty, President Tatar said that they did not receive an answer to these proposals.

Stating that our country’s air, soil, climate and water resources are abundant, President Tatar pointed out the importance of evaluating the importance of water as a scarce resource in this workshop and thanked all parties who contributed to the organization of the workshop.

Hüseyin Çavuş: “The results of the workshop will be an important milestone on the way to carrying our agricultural sector to a sustainable future.”

Emphasizing the importance of proper management of soil and water resources to increase agricultural production, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Hüseyin Çavuş stated that the effective management of these resources is of great importance for human health, food security, social welfare and ecosystems. Minister Çavuş stated that water is of critical importance for human life and water scarcity is increasing.

Noting that various projects have been carried out to increase efficiency in agricultural production, protect soils, ensure water conservation and use purified water, Çavuş said, “This workshop will carry our agricultural sector and our country to a stronger and more sustainable future by sharing knowledge and experiences on water, natural resources and environmental management. I think it will be an important milestone on the way carry our country to a more sustainable and stronger position.”

Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “As an island country with limited water resources, using water efficiently is vital for the sustainability of our existence.”

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Near East Enterprises Board of Trustees Chairman Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel reminding that water, which is the source of life, is also the most important input of agricultural production, said, “Using this vital resource efficiently is the most important requirement of the responsibility of all humanity towards future generations. However, for island countries with limited water resources, such as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the effective and efficient use of water is of much more vital importance for the sustainability of our agricultural production and therefore our existence.”

“Considering that a significant portion of the water used in our country reaches our island from our homeland, Turkey, as a source of life, using our water effectively and efficiently is one of the most important responsibilities of us, Turkish Cypriots.” said Prof. Dr. Günsel and added; “I have full faith that the “Workshop on the Effective Use of Water in TRNC Agricultural Production”, which we organized together with Selçuk University, one of the well-established universities of Turkey, will produce very important scientific results that will guide us in fulfilling this responsibility.”

Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy: “We are very happy to take part in such a workshop, which is a very important platform to determine future strategies in water management, and to cooperate with Near East University.”Selçuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy started his opening speech by giving information about the projects carried out by Selçuk University and its academic achievements. Stating that they carry out many projects on water and energy, Prof. Dr. Aksoy emphasized that agriculture is of vital importance for the food security of every country and that water is the cornerstone of agricultural production. Noting that factors such as increasing population and climate change have made more careful use of water resources a necessity, Prof. Dr. Aksoy said, “If we act together, we can create great awareness in this field. We are very happy to take part in such a workshop, which is a very important platform to share our experiences, discuss best practices, and determine strategies for the future, and to cooperate with Near East University.”

Pointing out that the role of water in agricultural production is not limited to productivity, Prof. Dr. Aksoy also noted that it is of great importance for the protection and sustainability of water resources. Prof. Dr. Aksoy noted that the necessary information, new applications, technological innovations and scientific solutions should be brought to the agenda for the efficient use of water. Prof. Dr. Aksoy stated that these are of vital importance and that it is an essential need to transform the topics in the workshop into concrete steps that will strengthen cooperation between various stakeholders. Prof. Dr. Aksoy said, “It is important to increase the number of such workshops in order to develop and implement new and innovative solutions for more effective use of water in agricultural production.”

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt: “In water management, we need to develop correct practices specific to our country by integrating world methods and techniques with local dynamics.”

Near East University Deputy Rector Prof. Dr. Kurt stated that agriculture causes large amounts of fresh water consumption worldwide and more than 70 percent of water is used for agriculture. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt emphasized that water management is of great importance today, due to the factors such as population growth and climate change.

“Maintaining effective water use in agriculture is very important for sustainable food production and environmental protection. “For this, it is necessary to develop correct practices specific to our country by integrating world methods and techniques with local dynamics,” said Prof. Dr. Kurt, and also made suggestions about the methods that can be applied. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt said, “Drip and precision irrigation systems, matching techniques, soil moisture sensors, diversification with crop rotation, investing in water-efficient product varieties, use of rainwater harvesting, and widespread use of protected soil cultivation can be considered among the methods that can be used effectively.”

Prof. Dr. Özge Özden: “We are determined to contribute to our country and the world by benefiting from advanced technology and artificial intelligence science.”Emphasizing that conscious and effective use of water in agricultural production is extremely important for the country’s economy and agricultural productivity, Near East University Faculty of Agriculture Dean Prof. Dr. Özge Özden emphasized that the workshop they organized with a very wide cooperation network will produce important results in this regard.

Prof. Dr. Özden said, “As the Near East University Faculty of Agriculture, we are determined to contribute to our country and the world by using advanced technology and artificial intelligence applications to solve the problems encountered in agricultural and animal production.”

Referring to the Founding Rector Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel’s vision of “living like a continental on the island”, Prof. Dr. Özge Özden said, “I would like to thank all the academicians, public officials, local government and non-governmental organization representatives who participated in our workshop for their contributions.”

AI. Prof. DUX: “Artificial Intelligence and Smart Technologies have the potential to transform the way we produce food and manage our most valuable resource, water.”Near East University’s artificial intelligence-based academician AI. Prof. DUX said in his speech at the workshop; “Agriculture has been the carrier of the development of human civilization for thousands of years. However, the challenges we face today, such as climate change, population growth and resource scarcity, require innovative solutions in this field. At this point, Artificial Intelligence and Smart Technologies come into play with the potential to transform the way we manage our food production and water, our most valuable resource.

AI DUX reminded us that we can predict crop health by analyzing large data sets on weather, soil conditions and historical data. Prof. DUX said “Imagine irrigation systems that use real-time data on soil moisture and weather to deliver the exact amount of water needed, drop by drop. Leak detection systems powered by AI can detect and fix problems before they become major disruptions. These are just a few examples of how artificial intelligence can revolutionize water management and ensure sustainable use of water for future generations.”