Applications for the state-provided breeding heifer credit–grant will begin in the coming months. Under this program, breeders will receive a 50% grant for purchasing breeding heifers. According to the regulation, eligible farmers who meet the required conditions will establish or expand enterprises and begin cattle breeding with the heifers supplied under the grant.
Who Can Benefit from Heifer Breeding Support?
Certain conditions must be met to receive the breeding heifer support. Eligible applicants include:
- Farmers who are newly entering heifer breeding, those who want to acquire breeding heifers, or those applying for tools, equipment and machinery needed for this activity,
- Producers who want to increase their existing breeding heifer capacity,
- Individuals or legal entities who are members of the Breeding Cattle Producers Union and who have had active cattle breeding registration in the TÜRKVET system for at least three years, whether applying individually or collectively.
- Recipients of the support are required to continue their activities for a mandatory period of five years.
- For new construction or capacity expansion projects, 50% of construction investment costs will be covered as a grant,
- A 50% grant will be provided for purchases of female calves (heifers),
- A 50% grant will be available for acquisition of equipment such as feed mixers or manure scrapers needed for feed preparation.
How to Apply?
Grant applications collected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry are accepted once a year according to the announced schedule and will continue to be accepted regularly through 2023 per the published calendar. Applicants who wish to benefit from the support must apply to their local Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. Each application corresponds to the year in which it is submitted, and those who are not awarded support may reapply annually.
The documents required to apply include the Farmer Registration System (ÇKS) certificate, a business plan, a project file, and title deed or lease agreements for the land where breeding will take place. An important point is that applicants who have previously received a grant or loan from another state institution cannot apply for the breeding heifer support until the previous grant or loan period has ended. If previous support is discovered, the amount received must be returned to the institution with statutory interest; this must be declared with notarized documentation.
When Is a Loan Used?
Each applicant can benefit from the grant only once. Those whose applications are not approved may reapply in subsequent annual application periods. If the state grant is insufficient for the planned investment, Ziraat Bank provides supporting loans and the outstanding amount may be financed under the Ziraat Bank Livestock Loan program. When combined with the grant, bank financing helps complete the specified project. Unlike the grant, Ziraat Bank livestock loans must be repaid. Importantly, the grant is contingent on financing arrangements: the 50% grant portion will not be released unless the remaining portion of the investment is secured.
Therefore, to benefit from the grant applicants must provide either upfront funds or use a Ziraat Bank livestock loan. Loan approval depends on bank conditions: registration in the ÇKS system, submission of the proposed project, documents proving compliance with ministry grant conditions, and a repayment schedule (monthly, semiannual, or annual). The bank approves the loan amount accordingly. The exact loan amount is determined by an expert report and set at a level sufficient for the project; applicants cannot unilaterally set the loan amount. With approved bank financing and the grant, the project can be implemented.