Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Türkiye

The Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Türkiye (Turkish: Türkiye Ziraat Odaları Birliği, TZOB) is the umbrella organization for local chambers of agriculture across Turkey. It is a public professional institution with legal personality, headquartered in Ankara. Under Law No. 6964 on Chambers of Agriculture and the Union of Chambers of Agriculture, farmers and legal entities engaged in agricultural activity are required to register with a local chamber of agriculture. The chambers are established at the district level, and all are directly affiliated with TZOB. TZOB's primary functions include maintaining and classifying farmer records, producing statistical data and sharing it with relevant authorities, and organizing courses and publications to strengthen farmers' professional knowledge and skills. It also handles agricultural social security registration for self-employed farmers under Article 4(b) of Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510. The organization is governed through a delegate system, with local delegate elections held every four years; elected village and neighborhood delegates choose district chamber assembly members, who in turn elect the board of directors and its chairman. The central governing body of TZOB is formed by delegates elected from among the chairmen of district chamber boards. The history of agricultural chambers in Turkey dates back to 1881, when they were first established under a special charter. Between 1881 and 1897, there were 99 chambers in operation. In 1912, a new charter allowed chambers to be established at the district level. During the Republican era, Law No. 3203 of 1937 aimed to revive the chambers, but adequate organization was not achieved until 1940. The current status of the chambers was established by Law No. 6964 in 1957, and the regulation governing their work was published in the Official Gazette in 1963. TZOB is led by Chairman Ş. Şemsi Bayraktar, who is frequently cited in the organization's communications. The union's website features news of his visits to local chambers, dairy farms, and planned industrial zones, reflecting its active role in rural and agricultural affairs. As a public professional organization, TZOB is not a commercial company but a statutory body that serves the interests of Turkish farmers and the agricultural sector.

The history of agricultural chambers in Turkey began in 1881, when they were first established under a special charter. Between 1881 and 1897, the number of active chambers reached 99. In 1912, a new charter enabled the establishment of chambers at the district level, reflecting efforts to improve farmer organization in a country where agricultural organization capacity was limited. During the Republican era, Law No. 3203 on the Duties and Organization of the Ministry of Agriculture, enacted in 1937, aimed to revitalize the chambers, but adequate organization was not achieved until 1940. The current legal status of the chambers was established by Law No. 6964 on Chambers of Agriculture and the Union of Chambers of Agriculture in 1957. However, the regulation governing the chambers' work was only published in the Official Gazette in 1963. Under Law No. 6964, as amended by Law No. 5184, chambers of agriculture are defined as public professional institutions with legal personality, established to provide professional services, meet farmers' common needs, facilitate professional activities, ensure the development of farming in line with general interests, uphold honesty and trust in relations among members and with the public, maintain professional discipline and ethics, and protect the professional rights and interests of those engaged in farming. The chambers' primary duties include maintaining farmer records, classification, producing statistical data, and sharing it with relevant authorities. They also organize courses and publications to strengthen farmers' professional knowledge and skills. Additionally, under Article 4(b) of Law No. 5510 on Social Insurance and General Health Insurance, the chambers keep agricultural social security registration records for self-employed farmers. Governance is based on a delegate system with majority voting. Local delegate elections are held every four years, in which all members can participate. Elected neighborhood and village delegates choose the district chamber's assembly members, who then elect the board of directors and its chairman. The central governing body of the Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Türkiye (TZOB), headquartered in Ankara, is formed by delegates elected from among the chairmen of district chamber boards. All chambers of agriculture are directly affiliated with TZOB. TZOB continues to operate as the umbrella organization for Turkish farmers, with current Chairman Ş. Şemsi Bayraktar actively visiting local chambers and agricultural sites, as reported on the organization's website.

• 1963

  Regulation governing chambers' work published in the Official Gazette.

• 1957

  Law No. 6964 establishes the current status of chambers and the Union of Chambers of Agriculture.

• 1937

  Law No. 3203 on the Duties and Organization of the Ministry of Agriculture aims to revitalize chambers.

• 1912

  New charter allows establishment of chambers at district level.

• 1881

  First agricultural chambers established under a special charter.

Public professional organization representing farmers and agricultural chambers in Turkey

1. 1Türkiye Ziraat Odaları Birliğitzob.org.tr
2. 2Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Türkiye - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Türkiye Ziraat Odaları Birliği - Wikipediatr.wikipedia.org