In Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Mardin, Şırnak and its environs, where precipitation decreased by more than 50%, the farmer's crop loss reached 80%. Drought-affected farmers asked the government to take care of them.
The danger of drought hit the Southeastern Anatolia Region. In the region, where precipitation has decreased by more than 50 percent compared to the previous year, the loss of farmers, especially in Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Mardin and Şırnak, is great. In general, drought causing serious problems in grain production increased yield loss up to 80 percent in some regions. In regions where irrigation facilities are insufficient, the absence of precipitation means a complete cessation of production. Farmers in the Southeast, which is the production center of wheat, barley, chickpeas, and lentils, were unable to plant next year without government support.
“OUR FARMERS HAVE HUGE LOSS THIS YEAR”
Expressing the problems of the farmers in the region, Diyarbakır Yenişehir Chamber of Agriculture President Süleyman İskenderoğlu, "The damage of our farmers this year is huge. The current drought in the Southeast is at very serious levels and should be taken seriously. Our farmers and producers have great expectations from our state due to this drought. First of all, regardless of state and private banks, our farmers' debts to banks should be postponed without interest. Likewise, the payments of our farmers, who are indebted to Agricultural Credit Cooperatives, should be postponed without interest. Finally, all farmers suffering from drought expect 400 TL support per acre," he said.
“IF THE FARMERS LEFT ALONE, THERE WILL BE NO PRODUCTS AND THE FARMERS NEXT YEAR”
Süleyman İskenderoğlu said that the drought will affect the whole of Turkey.
"Danger bells began to ring. Citizens all over our country are customers of farmers. If many foods that our citizens do not miss from their tables are wanted to be on the tables next year, the state should help the farmers right now. At the moment, the authorities should pay attention to the demands of the farmers. For a solution, our state should turn its direction to the problems of the farmers. If the farmer is left alone with his fate and drought, there will be a serious decrease in the yield in the Southeast Region next year. If the farmer is left alone this year, the next year there will be no crop, no farmer," he added.
“I EXPERIENCED OVER 70 PERCENT OF ANNUAL PRODUCT LOSS”
Mehmet Emin Soyal, a farmer who produces lentils and wheat in Şanlıurfa, "Almost all farmers in the region are victims. I planted nearly 400 acres of lentils, I was able to harvest about 18 tons of lentils. I planted 8 tons of lentils as seeds. Compared to previous years, I experienced more than 70 percent annual product loss in chickpeas. Likewise, there is a serious problem with wheat. It seems that the wheat harvest we get in normal times will decrease by more than two thirds this year. There are many farmers suffering from drought in my situation. We don't know what to do," he said.