Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci made statements at the Doğanşehir State Hospital Crisis Center regarding the latest situation in the earthquake zones in Malatya.
Noting that the earthquake occurred in an area of approximately 3 thousand square kilometers, three times the size of Konya, Kirişci said that the population corresponding to 103 percent of the country was directly affected.
Minister Kirişci pointed out that they have been working hard since the first moment and said that they mobilized the Ministry's human resources, tools and equipment to meet the needs. Kirişci gave information about the Ministry's efforts on crop production and animal production, and said, "The number of destroyed and heavily damaged sheep and cattle farms in Malatya is 1462, the number of perished cattle and ovine animals is 7 thousand 219, and 13 fisheries enterprises are 101. tons of fish and 14 million fry were lost.” he said.
“We Started the Flow of Water to Karakaya Dam by Evacuating the Sultan Suyu Dam”
Underlining that they continue to work to ensure sustainability in animal production, Kirişci noted that they sent 240 tents, 204 tarpaulins, 1028 tons of animal feed for the animals in the enterprises destroyed in the earthquake in Malatya, and 600 tons of barley was given to the breeders through the Turkish Grain Board (TMO).
Vahit Kirişci stated that they are continuing the necessary investigations on the dams. Pointing out that the Sürgü and Sultan Suyu dams are important in Malatya, Kirişci said, “Even if there is no leakage or risk due to the crack in the crests of the Sultan Suyu Dam, we predicted its evacuation and started the flow of water to the Karakaya Dam, which is the continuation of it. I would like to state that we have no problems with the 10 dams and 110 ponds in Malatya and 30 other provinces.” used the phrases.
At the point of human resources, Kirişci stated that 3 Deputy Ministers are in the field and one is in the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) Coordination Center, adding that 1 plane, 2 helicopters, nearly 5 thousand tools and equipment and 14 personnel are working in the field.
“We Will Provide a Total of 11 Billion Liras of Feed Support for 1,5 Provinces”
Minister Kirişci mentioned that those who deal with livestock in rural areas hand over the cattle and small cattle that need to be slaughtered to the Meat and Milk Institution, and said, “We undertook the care of our pregnant and young animals for the care and feeding of our General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises. We opened a total of 6 beds in our Ministry's guesthouses, which are easily accessible throughout the country, for the shelter of earthquake victims. We sent a total of 364 tents and containers to the earthquake area. We shipped approximately 2 tons of animal feed to feed the animals. We provided the distribution of 400 tons of food for the feeding of stray animals in the earthquake area. Since the weather conditions were harsh, we distributed approximately 6 thousand tons of firewood.” he said.
Stating that the producers, who are the guarantee of food supply security in the region, put their support payments forward for the region, Vahit Kirişci made the following assessments:
“Diesel and fertilizer subsidies, which have started to be given in kind as of 2022, will be paid in cash for 11 provinces affected by the earthquake. In this context, diesel and fertilizer subsidies, with a total amount of TL 2,8 billion, will be deposited into the accounts of our farmers until the end of February. We have extended the product update deadline of 2023 February for our producers who applied for the 28 production year ÇKS until 8 May. The payments of Raw Milk Support, Calf Support, Brood Sheep-Goat Support, Cattle Feeding Support, Beehive Support, Herd Growing and Renewal Support amounting to 530 million liras to be paid throughout the year will be withdrawn into the accounts of our producers in February for our 11 provinces. In addition, we will provide a total of 11 billion lira of feed support to 185 thousand enterprises in 2 provinces, 500 liras per animal for 9 million cattle and 50 liras per animal for 1,5 million sheep and goats.”
“TMO Will Procure Cereals and Pulses from the Producer Without Boundary and Quota Limits”
Kirişci noted that until the end of February, they will deposit a total of 141,6 million liras of agricultural support, including 3,2 million liras for diesel fertilizer support, 32,7 million liras for fodder crops, and 177,5 million liras for livestock support, to the farmers' accounts. . Noting that in the provinces affected by the earthquake disaster, TMO will purchase grains and pulses from the producers without any type or quota limit in order to support the producers registered with the ÇKS, Kirişci continued his words as follows:
“We undertook the treatment of stray animals with the mobile clinics we established in the earthquake zone. Hopefully, we will continue to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production in the region with other decisions and measures we will take in the process. As the Ministry, there is an issue that we care about sensitively that even if the earthquake hadn't happened, we had taken a position to encourage the return to the countryside and to increase the support based on the fact that the production is done in the countryside. In order to make happy and encourage our citizens who are currently inclined to leave the countryside or villages due to the earthquake, I state that new support activities will take place and will continue, in addition to the supports I mentioned.”
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