How did the earthquake affect agriculture, which crops are concerned about yield loss?

The negative effects of the great destruction caused by the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on agriculture began to become evident.

Despite all the difficulties, production continued in the earthquake region, where 16.1 percent of the total agricultural land is located, but cracks and potholes formed in some parts of the agricultural land, and landslides occurred. and landslides on the roads next to the fields.

Collapsed barns in the region, which accounted for 12 percent of total livestock and 18 percent of sheep, the animals left under the rubble either died or were sold to opportunistic traders cheaply as the rancher was unable to find the fodder to care for your animals after the earthquake.

Although the farmers affected by the earthquake, who were unable to leave their farmland and animals and migrate to the surrounding provinces, try to continue production, they find it difficult to continue production because they have difficulties accessing irrigation, fertilizers and medicines, and his tractor to go to his fields is under the rubble.

In Gaziantep tomato, pepper, eggplant, cucumber and zucchini are planted, in Elbistan corn; There is concern that there will be declines in maize and cotton yields in Hatay.

FAILED FERTILIZER, DANGER IN VEGETABLES AND GRAINS

We spoke with the Chairman of the Antakya Chamber of Agriculture, Mehmet Muzaffer Okay, the Chairman of the Gaziantep Şahinbey Chamber of Agriculture, Ali Çolak, the Chairman of the Elbistan Chamber of Agriculture, Mehmet Ali Bulut, and the Chairman of the Chamber of Agriculture of Adıyaman, Yaşar Özkan, to know the latest status of the farmer and agricultural production in the region after the earthquake.

Ali Çolak, Chairman of the Gaziantep Şahinbey Chamber of Agriculture, He explained that there was an earthquake in Gaziantep, at a time when the production of vegetables in the open field was about to start and fertilizers had to be thrown, starting in February, and that these fertilizers could not be applied in most of the fields. .

“It is necessary to create gardens in open spaces as soon as possible. Çolak said that “if it is not done until the first week of April, these products will be stripped away” and pointed out that fertilizers cannot be applied in the wheat and lentil fields, and this will cause losses in the quality of the product. .

‘LOSS OF PRODUCTION AND EXPENSES IS AT THE DOOR’

Çolak noted that Nurdağı and İslahiye, the districts that suffered the most earthquake damage in the city, are very important in terms of agricultural production and losses here will reflect negatively on production.

Çolak, who said that they visited the villages of Gaziantep with the TZOB president, Şemsi Bayraktar, and that the situation was not at all painful, gave the following warning:

“In addition to the stables and animals in the villages, the equipment was also under the rubble. The tractor and equipment, which were in the hands of the farmer, were destroyed and rendered useless. We see that the farmer, who is trying to survive on debts and loans, is no longer in a position to go to his field in the face of such a disaster.

Most do not have a shelter to shelter, they have a tent problem. The tractor, which is under the rubble, is just as important as the destroyed house. The state needs to provide support for tractors, because they don’t have the power to buy tractors again. They need to be supported as soon as possible so they don’t break production. Otherwise, the fields will remain empty and fallow, which means loss of production and high cost.”

‘COTTON AND CORN PRODUCTS MAY DECLINE IN HATAY’

In addition to the difficulties created by the earthquake, they are also fighting against drought.

Mehmet Muzaffer Okay, Chairman of the Antakya Chamber of Agriculture, In his evaluation to sozcu.com.tr, he explained that they expect a loss of yields in cotton and corn after the earthquake, both due to deformations in agricultural land and because they could not cover their irrigation needs after the drought.

According to Okay, the liquefaction of the soil increased on the banks of the Asi River, topographical distortions occurred in the terrains, there were displacements in the places and the terrains changed direction.

Noting that the farmer is trying to continue production despite all the difficulties, Okay said that this time it was difficult to access water due to the drought and the water holding capacity of the dams decreased by 2/3 after the earthquake.

Reporting that the Yarseli dam in Antakya contained 55 million cubic meters of water, this amount decreased to 25 million cubic meters after the earthquake, and expressed the farmer’s dilemma in the following words:

THEY ALSO FIGHT AGAINST DROUGHT

“There are losses in deep wells due to the earthquake. Since deep wells will not work, and workers will require additional expenses, the farmer ponders what to do. Therefore, he requires less water and prefers products with high efficiency. These are cotton or corn. But there is also a price problem in cotton. So not worth the money. That’s why the farmer doesn’t come near. Along with all the problems, there was also that dilemma.”

Stating that one of the most important problems for Hatay farmers is solving the irrigation problem, Okay made the following demands on behalf of the earthquake victims:

“We want positive discrimination for farmers in the region. Watering should be facilitated. Dams and underground resources need to be repaired. We want product supports to be paid ahead of time during this period.”

‘TRACTOR AND MEDICINE ARE UNDER WASH, TENT STRESS CONTINUES IN VILLAGES’

Mehmet Ali Bulut, Chairman of the Elbistan Chamber of Agriculture On the other hand, he stated that after the earthquake, the population of Elbistan halved, the remaining farmers will continue to produce, but this will be difficult as their tractors are under the rubble and the loss of labor will also create negativity. .

Noting that not only tractors and equipment, but also fertilizers and pesticides were left under the rubble, Bulut said, “Even if the fertilizer factory brings the products or pesticides reach the field, there are no merchants selling fertilizers and pesticides. The shortage of tents and containers continues for the people living in the village,” he said.

He highlighted that one of the biggest difficulties faced by farmers, who continue to produce despite all the difficulties, are the high prices of diesel and fertilizers, and that the farmer was unable to provide these inputs after the earthquake.

Stating that summer planting will start at the end of this month and that they will plant sugar beets and maize, Bulut said: “After the earthquake, the farmer cannot afford to be expensive. The State should provide additional support to farmers in fertilizers and diesel and heal our wounds, ”he said.

MORE THAN 10 THOUSAND ANIMALS DIE IN ADIYAMAN

Yaşar Özkan, Chairman of the Adıyaman Chamber of Agriculture On the other hand, it was estimated that more than 10,000 head of cattle, sheep, and poultry were destroyed in the city.

Stating that the records of destroyed barns were kept through the provincial agriculture directorates and handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Özkan stated that the share of dead animals in total animal wealth will be clarified in the future.

Noting that they will start tobacco production at the end of April, while fighting the drought, Özkan said: “We are trying to continue production despite great difficulties. We may not be able to find workers in the next few months. We demand the cancellation of the debts of the peasants in the area of ​​the earthquake”.

The region produces 57.5% of citrus fruits and 72.7% of cotton

On the other hand, why the earthquake, which was turned into a disaster by rent-based policies, had devastating effects on agriculture can be understood from the following:

* 9.1 percent of Turkey’s Gross Domestic Product and 15.1 percent of agricultural Gross Domestic Product come from the disaster area.

* According to TUIK data, by 2022, 3.8 million hectares out of 23.8 million hectares of agricultural land are located in 11 earthquake-affected provinces, corresponding to 16.1 percent of total agricultural land.

* According to TUIK data, while the value of Turkey’s agricultural production was 306.3 billion in 2021, the region’s contribution to this value amounted to 64.1 billion lire, or 20.9%, more than one fifth of the total value of agricultural production.

* The number of cattle in the region constitutes 12 percent of the total cattle and 18 percent of the sheep and goats in Turkey.

* According to TUIK data, while Turkey’s animal production value is Lira 108.5 billion in 2020, the region’s contribution to this value is Lira 7.3 billion, a substantial 6.7%.

* The region has a volume of 13.2% of Turkey’s 238.7 billion lira cattle and is home to a significant part of basic agricultural products.

* 82.7 percent pistachios, 72.7 percent cotton, 57.5 percent citrus, 33 percent corn and almonds, 19 percent wheat and 16 percent of the olives produced in Turkey are affected by earthquakes in the region.

* For example, Hatay, one of the provinces that suffered the most from the earthquake, alone extracts 8.6 percent of Turkey’s cotton production. While Hatay produces 2% of Turkey’s maize production, 3% comes from Kahramanmaraş.

* In the region where 33 percent of Turkey’s almond production is provided, 17.8 percent of this production comes from Adıyaman.

* While the region has a share of 82.7 percent of Turkey’s pistachio production, Gaziantep accounts for 23.4 percent and Adıyaman provides 11.3 percent of production.