URFA – In Urfa, where agricultural activities are intense, Irrigation Associations determined irrigation fees per acre. The new prices announced with the start of the irrigation season caused a reaction from farmers.
Stating that their products do not make money after the increase in input costs, farmers say that it is not possible for them to overcome the irrigation fee determined per decare.
‘WHEAT LEFT TO RAIN’
According to Ahmet Kamal, a farmer from Urfa, the water price per acre of his cotton field last year was 1900 liras. With the support given, this number dropped to 950. However, with the new price list, this figure became 3 thousand 100 lira.
Kamal said, “There is no discount either. If we were to plant 100 decares, we would pay 310 thousand TL only for irrigation. The figure has tripled. This is unfair. In the past, even 950 TL was more. We are really being victimized here right now. “Our earnings are not that much anyway,” he said.
“This is the well price, those who irrigate with dams pay 200-300 TL. “There is a lot of difference between us,” said Kamal, adding that a more fair price could be determined.
Kamal continued: “The wheat was left in the rain. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. We are in this situation. We have no profit; We buy expensive medicines, we buy expensive seeds. The price we sell does not save our costs. In fact, we do it in vain.”
PROMISE FROM THE MINISTRY TO REGULAR URFA
Bozova Chamber of Agriculture President Müslüm Okan stated that the current situation is not good and that they had promised to meet with the Ministry of Agriculture in the future and make a regulation specifically for Urfa.
Okan said: “Currently, our Bozova Atatürk Irrigation Association has set a price of 2 thousand 700 TL. It is not possible for the farmer to pay this. Last season, 50 percent support was given, but that support is not given now. Unfortunately, in our future meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture; It was said, ‘We are in a position to enact a special law for Şanlıurfa.’ There may be a possibility of 50 percent support, but there is nothing clearer. If they cannot give, the farmer cannot cope with this and cannot produce. Last year, the state was providing 1700 TL support. Around 50 percent of farmers were paying per acre, currently it is 2 thousand 700 TL. There is no support whatsoever. If the state does not provide support per acre, irrigation will be cut off halfway through the season. “The farmer’s product dries up.”
‘PRICE LIST SHOULD BE REVIEWED’
Republican People’s Party Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal also shared the list on his social media account and said, “2024 irrigation price lists of irrigation unions need to be reviewed.”
Making a statement on the subject, Tanal said: “The irrigation price list of the Irrigation Association for 2024 is the death sentence of the farmers of Şanlıurfa! In 2023, farmers affiliated with the Irrigation Union were irrigating cotton, whose irrigation fee per acre was 1900 TL, at a discount of 950 TL, corn for 950 TL, and wheat, whose irrigation fee was 750 TL per acre, at a discount of 375 TL. According to the price determined for 2024: irrigation fee per acre of cotton is 3100 TL. Irrigation fee per acre of corn is 3100 TL. The irrigation fee per acre of wheat is 900 TL. Irrigation fee per acre for peanuts is 750 TL. The irrigation fee per acre of vegetables is 3100 TL and there is no discount on any of these. Other input costs are already weighing on farmers. When there is expensive irrigation on top of that, the message is given to the farmers: ‘do not produce’. “2024 irrigation price lists of irrigation unions need to be reviewed.”
‘ENERGY PRICES ARE TOO HIGH’
An official from the Irrigation Association, who did not give his name, said the following about the prices: “The Irrigation Association is an operating expense, maintenance, repair, personnel expenses, etc. are added and a price is determined accordingly. Otherwise, it is not a profit-oriented situation. Nobody cares about this. Also, this is not about the Irrigation Association. “This is the case because energy prices are high and there is no government support.”
