There are 403 penal institutions in Turkey. Among this penal institution, there are 272 closed prisons, 99 are detached and open prisons, 4 are juvenile education centers, 11 are women’s closed prisons, 8 are women’s open prisons and 9 are juvenile and youth closed prisons.
There are two institutions in the penal system of Turkey. These institutions are the “General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses” and the “Criminal Institution of Workshops Directorates”. Both institutions are involved in basic education, vocational training, social support and reintegration of prisoners into society. The agricultural and livestock activities carried out by the Criminal Institution Workshop of Directorates are only implemented in open prisons.
Criminal Institution Workshop of Directorates reported a total agricultural area of 4.100 ha, with cultivable agricultural land covering 2.272 ha. Agricultural activities are carried out in the fields of fruit growing, vegetable growing, fodder crops and cereal cultivation. A total of 3.518 tons of fruits were produced in 2023 and the production area is expected to increase further. Approximately 2.521 tons of vegetables were produced through open-field and greenhouse cultivation. Vegetable production areas are also expected to increase by increasing greenhouse production areas and bringing arable land into agricultural production. In addition to fruits and vegetables, cereals, legumes and fodder crops are also cultivated by the Criminal Institution Workshop of Directorates. Within this scope, a total of 6.800 tons of cereals and legumes were produced in 2023. Fodder crops such as silage corn, alfalfa, vetch, sainfoin, fodder peas, and straw are also cultivated within Open Prison Institution workshops to meet the feed needs of large and small livestock. A total of 4.164 tons of fodder crops were produced in 2023. Livestock activities carried out by the Criminal Institution Workshop of Directorates are carried out in order for inmates and detainees to learn a profession or to improve their existing professions so that they can be reintegrated into society as qualified individuals. These activities are carried out within the scope of cattle and sheep breeding, egg and meat poultry, buffalo breeding, quail breeding, beekeeping and slaughterhouse activities under modern production conditions. Some of these activities are carried out within the Niğde, Edirne, Foça, Kırşehir, Dalaman, Kars, Narman, Kalecik, Kırklareli, Durağan, Akçakale, Gölpazarı, Bozüyük, Tokat, Burdur, Elazığ, Sakarya and Buca Criminal Institution Workshop of Directorates. In the livestock sector, a total of 640 inmates and detainees were employed in 2023 for vocational training and rehabilitation purposes.
Turkey has a large amount of arable land. Agriculture is also one of the key pillars of the economy. However, in recent years, migration from rural areas to cities has been increasing. In particular, inmates who have agricultural training or work in agricultural production in prisons later become a part of agricultural production. Additionally, prisoners engaging in agricultural activities in prisons positively impact their mental health.
