The "Effects of the Earthquake on Agriculture and Food System Workshop" was held in cooperation with the Agriculture and Food Ethics Association (TARGET) and Ankara University Faculty of Agriculture. In the workshop, which was completed in a total of 3 sessions, experts in their fields discussed their views on the subject.
Drawing attention to the measures to be taken before a disaster occurs, ABB President Yavaş started his speech with the following words:
“We actually visited almost all areas in the earthquake zone. We also identified the needs there. One of the most important benefits of the workshop; we, as a country, usually say 'What can we do urgently' and engage in rescue activities after a disaster instead of taking precautions before a disaster occurs. We show this as earthquake disaster activity. We need to look at what can be done and measures can be taken before a disaster occurs. In addition, certain notes must be taken while these studies are carried out after each disaster.”
Talking about the support they provided to the earthquake area in the field of rural development, Yavaş said, “One of their main needs was an animal tent in Kahramanmaraş. Almost all of the people living in the countryside, without exception, wanted an animal tent. We are building container cities and tent cities, but none of the livestock producers wanted to go there. Because next to his destroyed house, they tried to protect their animals and keep them alive. These should be noted in the same way… As the need increased, our Rural Development Department took almost everywhere from village to village and distributed silage and animal feed.”
Continuing his speech on sustainable agriculture, Yavaş said, “Farmers in the earthquake region did not want anything first. Later their demands changed because the world goes on. In order to survive in the ongoing world, they need to continue their production, and for this reason, they have started to demand agricultural fertilizers and such supports from us. The lands in Kahramanmaraş are very suitable for agriculture and should not be abandoned. For this reason, we are working on what we can do for sustainable agriculture there.”
Slow ended his speech with the following words:
“Today's meeting is the effects of the earthquake on agriculture, but there are measures to be taken before an earthquake and a disaster. We saw the flood in Şanlıurfa because we now have drought in the face of this climate crisis, followed by forest fires or extreme floods. Urban flooding is inevitable due to wrong urbanization. Central Anatolia is facing the danger of desertification, I hope these measures will be taken as soon as possible and we will at least take the measures without cursing or lamenting. This study will set a good example in that respect, and I would like to thank all the participants. We will do our best to make sustainable agriculture work.”