Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci made some statements after the meeting held in Diyarbakır AFAD Coordination Center.
Minister Kirişci: “We will build 70 thousand village houses in the rural areas affected by the earthquake in the first place. Today, we will share with you the support figures for our 81 provinces. We will make the support payment in 11 items as of today. In this context, 2 million 167 thousand 958 producers, 12 billion 508 million 946 thousand 845, 238 thousand 93 producers within the scope of diesel and fertilizer support, 733 million 574 thousand 582, 634 farmers within the scope of aquaculture support, 119 million 344 thousand 310, 26 329 million 191 thousand 991 for broodstock sheep-goat support to our 600 breeders, 62 million 606 thousand 127 for 6 thousand 325 breeders for calf support, 8 million 909 thousand for 57 thousand 952 breeders within the scope of herd growth and renewal support, 9 thousand 993 breeders for beekeeping support 36 million 615 thousand 320, 4 million 923 thousand 33 within the scope of raw milk support to our 474 thousand 883 breeders, 1054 million 22 thousand within the scope of fattening male cattle support to our 835 breeders, 47 million 3 thousand within the scope of disease-free enterprise support to 937 breeders, protection of animal gene resources to 21 breeders Within the scope of the support, a total of 318 billion 850 million 13 thousand 836 liras, of which 6 thousand 715 liras, was allocated to 2 million 520 thousand liras. n We will deposit it into the accounts of 567 farmers as of today.” he said.
Minister Vahit Kirişci said, “We have decided to pay the diesel and fertilizer support, which we have paid in kind, in cash to 2022 provinces affected by the earthquake since 11. As of today, we will deposit a total of 3 billion 414 million 727 thousand 606 liras into the accounts of 425 thousand 275 earthquake-affected farmers.
“We Will Build 70 Thousand Village Houses in the Rural Area Affected by the Earthquake”
Reminding that they decided to pay the diesel and fertilizer support in cash in 11 cities affected by the earthquake, Minister Kirişci said, “As of today, we will deposit a total of 3 billion 414 million 727 thousand 606 liras into the accounts of our 425 thousand 275 earthquake-affected farmers. They will be able to withdraw their support money in cash.” said.
Minister Vahit Kirişci made a statement regarding the agricultural support for farmers in the regions affected by the earthquakes after the meeting held in Diyarbakır AFAD Coordination Center.
Wishing the whole country "get well soon" for the earthquake disaster, Kirişci said that there were two major earthquakes with an interval of 9 hours in a row, followed by more than 2 aftershocks in the last 19 days, and two earthquakes in Hatay.
Expressing that the state and the nation have started to heal the wounds of this disaster, which is one of the biggest disasters of the last century, with each passing day, Kirişci said, “I hope we will overcome this disaster soon and restore this region to its former vitality.” he said.
Pointing out that the country has a geography that can be exposed to many disasters, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Kirişci said that they have experienced many natural disasters in the last 3 years, from earthquakes to floods, from forest fires to drought, and that they recover quickly after each disaster.
Pointing out that the country, which was exposed to the disaster of the century, works in the field with all the units of the state to heal the wounds and relieve the pain, Kirişci stated that as the ministry, they support the works to meet the needs of people with 4 thousand 597 machinery and equipment and 13 thousand 598 personnel.
Stating that the earthquake region is of strategic importance for food supply security with its fertile lands and climate structure, Vahit Kirişci pointed out the potential of the region in the production of cereals, legumes, fresh fruits, vegetables and dried fruits.
Kirişci stated that they will continue to make positive discrimination to the farmers in the earthquake area and stated that they carry out all support and planning activities for agricultural production in 11 provinces simultaneously, and that they have taken the necessary measures to spend the 2023 agricultural production season without any problems.
Stating that this process will be overcome quickly thanks to the strong infrastructure of the state together with the hardworking, productive and patriotic people of the region, Minister Kirişci emphasized that they will provide a strong service to the farmers with the planning and infrastructure they will make in this wide area covering 11 provinces.
70 Thousand Village Houses Will Be Built in the First Stage
Stating that the region is too valuable and important to be left alone with its agricultural production, as in other aspects, Kirişci continued as follows:
“If we evaluate this size numerically, the contribution of 11 provinces in the earthquake zone to the agricultural sector is 17 percent of the agricultural production area, 14 percent of our farmers, 15 percent of the agricultural product, 16 percent of the cultivated area, 17 percent of the crop production, 18 percent of the number of livestock, meadows and forests. 10 percent of the pasture area and 22 percent of our agricultural exports are made in this region. For this reason, from the first moment of the earthquake, my 4 deputy ministers, 8 general directors, 2 department heads, 15 provincial agriculture and forestry directors, thousands of our personnel, together with me, went to the capillaries of the earthquake zone in order to heal the wounds of the people of the region and to eliminate the problems in the region, which is the guarantee of our food supply security. We have delivered and continue to provide services. With the feedback we received from the field with my team, we put the infrastructure of our Ministry into the service of our earthquake-affected farmers. In this context, in order to support our farmers in the earthquake zone, ISK directs slaughter animals to combines with different price applications. The IHC coordinates the sale and production of milk that cannot be marketed in the region. TİGEM undertook the care and feeding of pregnant and young animals. By distributing 13 thousand 196 tons of feed, we met the urgent needs of our earthquake survivors. We distributed 4 animal tents for animals whose shelters were destroyed. We gave 399 thousand 41 tons of wood for the heating need. We establish mobile or mobile veterinary clinics for animal health. For the fight against animal diseases and scheduled vaccination activities, our 61 vaccine companies provide the production and supply of vaccines to the region on a regular basis. We distribute 2 thousand tons of food for stray animals with AFAD teams. We identify businesses and animals damaged in the earthquake. We will provide free of charge the bovine, ovine, poultry and bee hive that perished in the earthquake. We will meet the urgent need for sugar for 50 million hives in 11 provinces. We have extended the ÇKS update period until May 1,5, 8. We have extended some support application deadlines. In this context, organic agriculture May 2023, 8, good agricultural practices May 2023, 8, soil analysis support March 2023, 31, oilseed plants difference payment support May 2023, 2. We will pay the diesel and fertilizer supports of those who have applied for the ÇKS and passed away in cash to the heirs. TMO will purchase grains and legumes in the disaster area, regardless of quota and breed. We extended the application for individual irrigation systems until May 2023, 8, and the rural development investment application until May 2023, 11 for 8 provinces.”
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Kirişci stated that the subsidized loan debts of the farmers in the earthquake area to Ziraat Bank and Tarım Kredi were postponed for 1 year, and that the forest villagers and cooperatives postponed the loan installments until 31 December 2023, adding that no interest will accrue to the debts of the villagers who benefit from these loans during the postponement. He said he wouldn't.
“We Will Act Together With Our Farmers In The Earthquake Zone In This Process”
Reminding that diesel and fertilizer support will be given in cash in the provinces in the disaster area, Kirişci stated that the support for the other 70 provinces will be defined on Ziraat Bank cards to be used only in the purchase of diesel and fertilizer.
Stating that there are places in the disaster area from 0 to 2000 altitudes, Vahit Kirişci stated that this situation allows four seasons to be experienced in the region at the same time, and this significantly affects the agricultural pattern.
Minister Kirişci said: “While some parts of the earthquake zone are harvested, some on-site fertilization and spraying, some on-site pruning, some on-site planting and planting, our farmers are still planning what to plant. We also know that they need cash just as they need everything because of the great disaster they have experienced. For this reason, in order to meet their cash needs in this difficult situation, we have decided to pay the diesel and fertilizer support, which we have paid in kind since 2022, to 11 provinces affected by the earthquake in cash. In this context, 301 billion 472 million 2 thousand 861 within the scope of diesel and fertilizer support to 743 thousand 200 producers, 9 million 830 thousand 41 within the scope of feed crops production support for 92 thousand 146 producers, 113 million 861 thousand 473 within the scope of animal husbandry support to our 812 thousand 128 breeders. As of today, we will deposit a total of 112 billion 38 million 80 thousand 132 liras, 3 million 414 thousand 727 liras, into the accounts of our 606 thousand 425 earthquake-affected farmers. They will be able to withdraw support funds in cash. May our agricultural support payments be beneficial and fruitful to the farmers of both our disaster area and our country. We are working with all our strength to revive the disaster area in agricultural terms, as in every field. We are knowledgeable in every aspect of agricultural activity in the region. We are putting all kinds of instruments on the field so that our farmers are not affected by this process. In this process, we will act together with our farmers in the earthquake zone. We will meet the needs of the region by making a strong short, medium and long-term support and agricultural production planning policy for the region. We will bring the seed together with the soil, fertilize, water and spray together and remove the crop from the field and garden together. Hopefully, we will celebrate the harvest festival together in these lands."