CHP Adana Deputy Ayhan Barut stated that tens of thousands of decares of cultivated and planted agricultural products dried up because the newly built closed irrigation systems under the responsibility of DSI in Çukurova were not working actively. Barut emphasized that the region experiencing drought should be declared a disaster area and stated that the damage to farmers is great.
Farmers’ Victimization and Solution Suggestions
Barut came together with the aggrieved farmers in Tufanlı village of Adana’s Kozan district and drew attention to the problems experienced by the producers in an area of 26 thousand decares. Stating that the deficiencies in purification and filtering, especially in closed irrigation systems, prevent water from reaching agricultural lands, Barut stated that the damages of farmers should be determined and a definitive solution to the irrigation problem should be found.
“While the pipes were clogged and burst, the filters of the farmers who paid for irrigation in advance became clogged and became dysfunctional, so no water reached the agricultural fields, and all agricultural fields, from corn to citrus, in tens of thousands of decares , dried up almost completely.”
Barut announced the difficulties experienced by the farmers and demanded that the disaster area be declared, the damages be identified and covered, and the irrigation problem be solved permanently. He came together with farmers and emphasized that steps should be taken to solve the problems.
“We cannot irrigate our crops this season.”
Tolga Ceyhanlı, one of the farmers who cannot irrigate their agricultural lands in the region, stated that they cannot irrigate their products due to problems in the irrigation systems and that they face great losses. Çeyhanlı pointed out that the grievances of farmers should be eliminated and solutions to the problems should be found.
“Fields and gardens are drying up because there is no irrigation. There is a problem here due to the project. There is a problem in the closed system that has been established. This needs to be solved urgently and the damage must be compensated.”
Agricultural engineer Barış Burtaran also drew attention to the irrigation problems and stated that the deficiencies in closed irrigation systems should be eliminated and the farmers’ losses should be compensated. Farmer Mehmet Yılmaz, who produces corn in a total area of 110 decares, stated that he suffered great losses due to the irrigation problem.
