TZOB seismic zone alert: Increases food prices

Şemsi Bayraktar, President of the Turkish Union of Chambers of Agriculture (TZOB), spoke about the effects of the great destruction caused by the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on agriculture.

Stating that 9.1 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and 15.1 percent of agricultural Gross Domestic Product come from the disaster area, Bayraktar said, “Our farmers in the region should definitely be prevented from leaving their villages. , fields and production. The decline in production in this region increases food prices across the country and causes the agricultural sector to shrink.

‘FOOD AND WATER MUST BE PROVIDED TO THE ANIMALS’

Bayraktar listed what needs to be done as follows:

* While the effects of the destruction in the region kept the heat, especially the destruction of barns, pens and animal shelters hurt the animals here and therefore our producers.

One of the most urgent and priority things to do in terms of agriculture is to give shelter to animals in the open air, take care of their food, water and electricity, and give priority to other works such as veterinary services.

* State institutions TİGEM, Meat and Dairy Institution should work more effectively on this issue in order to avoid the disposal of animals at no cost.

‘MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT MUST BE RENEWED’

* Since the machinery and equipment of our farmers under the rubble are damaged, support should be provided in this regard.

* The machinery and equipment, which are essential for the agricultural activities of our farmers, must be renewed immediately, and our producers in the region must benefit as a priority from rural development and investment support.

* If necessary, machinery parks should be established at certain locations, and the use of machinery and equipment by manufacturers within an organization should be ensured.

* Taking into account that it is difficult to reach the villages, especially in winter conditions, and the regional magnitude of the earthquake, this situation represents a significant disadvantage.

There are problems in the supply of food for people and feed for animals. Work on this issue should be accelerated. TMO and the Farm Credit Unions must continue to send their barley and other food to the region.

‘AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION IS COMING, DSI SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS’

* It is of great importance to repair damaged infrastructure such as electrical systems, dams, canals, irrigation systems, drinking water, and roads. Especially since the agricultural irrigation season is approaching, producers should not be victims. DSI must take the necessary measures in this regard and prevent producers from suffering from water shortages.

* Also, in Hatay, which is a major citrus producer, there was a problem in the marketing of lemons. Recipient institutions such as Agricultural Credit Cooperatives must intervene for the lemons left in their branches, and our producers must not be victimized.

* With spring, winter crops will need fertilizer and summer crops will need seeds, diesel, fertilizer and irrigation. Currently, help and support is provided to agricultural production and producers. However, agricultural activity will intensify very soon.
Considering this, it is necessary to take all kinds of measures to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production.

* The shops and warehouses of input merchants and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives, especially fertilizers, were damaged in the region. Our producers say that there is a problem in the supply of inputs. The shipment of inputs to the region must be done quickly and delivered to our farmers. The needs of our farmers must be quickly identified and met.

It must be ensured that inputs such as seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, electricity and irrigation are provided as subsidies to farmers who will remain in agricultural production, at least during this production season, and BAĞ-KUR premiums must be covered by the government.