‘If We Cannot Ensure Planting, a Crisis Might Arise in Agriculture’

* Photo: undp.org

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"Coronavirus has affected farmers and seasonal workers as much as much as it has affected others. However, the planting season has begun. If farmers cannot plant, the ensuing crisis will hit not only the farmers themselves, but the workers planting and harvesting the products as well. As the countries will turn in on themselves, we cannot import, which will lead to increasing prices. The state must stand by the farmer by taking necessary measures so that we can overcome this period of crisis."

As the number of new coronavirus (Covid-19) cases and the death toll are gradually increasing in Turkey, we speak to main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Niğde MP Ömer Fethi Gürer about the situation of farmers and seasonal agricultural workers.

Noting that coronavirus is affecting the society more and more, Gürer underlines that the economy packages unveiled by the government do not cover farmers and seasonal agricultural workers.

Gürer says that the problems of farmers could take hold of the whole country and warns the government against a possible crisis in agriculture.

'The harvest will affect the whole country'

Sharing information about the current situation and problems of farmers and seasonal workers, Ömer Fethi Gürer says that as the farmers living in the rural cannot go to cities, they are having problems with provision of seeds, seedlings, fertilizers and pesticides. He continues as follows:

"Depending on the region, farmers plant seeds and seedlings in Turkey from April 1 to June 30, which means that farmers should start planting as of yesterday. But, as they cannot go out, farmers have problems accessing money and they cannot go to the city to buy seedlings, seeds and fertilizers.

"I believe that Agricultural Credit Cooperatives or similar other agricultural institutions must donate seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to villages; they should, in fact, bring them to their homes. Farmers must be given this aid. If there are farmers who cannot plant, the Provincial Directorates of Agriculture must identify them and provide them with the necessary support.

"We are supposedly a self-sufficient country, but we are importing over 130 agricultural products. Due to coronavirus, we will have problems with obtaining the products that we normally import. So, a planning must be done especially about grains and legumes and it must be ensured that they are planted in wider fields. Because the harvest will affect the whole country.

'Farmers not included in economy packages'

"As far as I see, the state is not taking any steps for the farmer. Farmers are not in the unveiled packages. The debts of farmers have not been deferred, their interests have not been written off, their debt enforcement proceedings have not been halted. Even the subsidies from 2018 have not yet reached farmers in full and they have just started receiving the subsidies for 2019. When I met farmers in Çukurova, Adana, some of them told me that they had not yet received subsidies for cotton, soy and sunflower.

"There are farmers who cannot produce because they have electricity debts. There are farmers whose subidies are cut due to these debts. Do not cut their subsidies at least in a time like this. Ensure that subsidies directly reach farmers so that we can overcome this problematic process more easily.

"What is important here is to bring farmers and soil together and to ensure that they plant. If we cannot do this, the upcoming period will be problematic for us. We will have difficulties in finding imported products. Because all countries will turn in on themselves.

"For instance, the wheat planting has begun now. Last year, Turkey produced almost 20 million tons of wheat. In addition to this, wheat was also imported, processed into biscuits and pasta and exported.

"If we cannot import wheat this year, the attention will turn to the domestic market and it will lead the prices to increase. Our planting fields are already shrinking. No wheat is planted in almost 3.5 million decare field. We must produce more wheat so that the prices will not increase. We must start planning now for the unplanted fields."

Seasonal agricultural workers

CHP MP Gürer also addresses the condition and problems of seasonal agricultural workers. Reminding us of their unhealthy working conditions, Gürer underlines that sham measures will not be of any use.

"If we act thinking that nothing will happen to us, we will face a catastrophe", Gürer says and continues as follows:

"If farmers are not provided with the conditions where they can plant in this period, it will first affect the agricultural workers who plant and collect these seedlings. But agricultural workers' being together is now a problem in itself. Their transportation from one place to another is a problem. On top of that, they are forced to live together in unsuitable conditions.

"If they continue living like this, the disease will pose a bigger risk to them. The state must take or develop precautions for that.

"Normally, circular letters would be issued, governor's offices would make announcements, saying that clean water and electricity connections of the workers would be arranged and their conditions would be improved. But, when we went there, we saw that none of these problems were eliminated.

"But this process is not like any other. Different precautions need to be taken against the illness risk of workers. Safety must be ensured everywhere, from the distance they will keep while working to the places where they are accommodated and where they eat.

"Because if one worker gets infected, it will mean the end for agricultural workers who already work in unhealthy conditions.

"We are aware that every segment has more responsibilities and obligations. If the state quickly takes the necessary precautions to solve these problems, the problems will be minimized. But, if they act thinking that 'nothing will happen anyway', then we will face a catastrophe." (HA/SD)