Şafak Eraslan expands water buffalo farm in Bayburt

Şafak Eraslan, a 30-year-old entrepreneur in the Aydıntepe district of Bayburt, has successfully expanded her water buffalo farm using a 100,000 TL grant from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s ‘Uzman Eller’ project.

Starting with seven buffaloes in 2022, Eraslan has grown her herd to 17 animals. She produces buffalo milk, yogurt, and butter, which are distributed to various provinces across Turkey. Due to high demand, she has noted challenges in meeting all orders on time.

Eraslan, the only female water buffalo breeder in her area, stated that her venture has transformed the local identity of İncili Village, which is now increasingly recognized as the ‘village with buffaloes.’ Before starting this business, she had been preparing for the Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS) to become a civil servant, but she expressed satisfaction with choosing entrepreneurship instead.