- Field Visits: Elmalı, Döşemealtı, and Manavgat Open Prisons (7-9 January 2026)
As part of our local activities, site visits were conducted to the Elmalı, Döşemealtı, and Manavgat Open Correctional Institutions (Figure 1). We met with wardens, instructors, and trainees to discuss:
Pilot Studies: Selecting crop varieties for the upcoming spring season.
Knowledge Transfer: Planning sessions where Portugal participants will train at least five other individuals in organic farming.
Figure 1. General views from the field visits conducted at the Elmalı (a and b), Döşemealtı (b and c), and Manavgat (e and f) Open Prisons.
2. Evaluation: Reflections on the Portugal Visit
On February 17th, the project team held a hybrid evaluation meeting to discuss the outcomes of the Portugal visit (Figure 2).
Figure 2. General view from the onlineevaluation meeting held to assess the outcomes of the Portugal visit.
A Comparative View: Türkiye and Portugal
The exchange program in Portugal provided a direct comparison between different scales of agricultural activities within correctional facilities. While Türkiye’s prison workshops are known for their large-scale and highly mechanized operations, the Portuguese model highlights the unique rehabilitative power of small-scale, hand-tool-based „social farming.“
Our observations suggest that „touching the soil“ through simpler methods offers a profound advantage for inmate reintegration. By combining Portugal’s hands-on, boutique methodology with Türkiye’s disciplined, high-capacity production, we are establishing a clear roadmap for both inmate rehabilitation and the expansion of organic agriculture in our correctional system.
