Van Farmers Face Hardship: 'There Used to Be Talk of Sacrifice Animals, Now No One Even Asks'

Cumhuriyet newspaper reports from Van's Çatak district, where livestock farmers are enduring 'difficult days' as escalating costs cripple their livelihoods. The article paints a grim picture of the agricultural sector in eastern Turkey, with rising expenses for feed, shepherds, and transportation drastically reducing profit margins. Aziz Sarıbulak, a farmer with 40 years of experience, articulates the harsh reality: 'If there were another job, we would leave animal husbandry.' He laments that the cost of basic necessities like barley has skyrocketed, requiring the sale of multiple sheep to afford what was once achievable with a single animal. The early and harsh winter exacerbated these issues, leading to a sharp decline in animal sales. Cemal Çetin echoes these sentiments, stating 'animal husbandry is finished' and noting that young people are abandoning rural life because it is no longer economically viable. The article highlights a broader concern that the nation's development hinges on agriculture and animal husbandry, and its decline signals a worrying trend for the country's future. The farmers' pleas for government support, particularly concerning fuel and fertilizer costs, underscore the urgent need for intervention to prevent the collapse of this vital sector.

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If there were another job, we would leave animal husbandry.