Female Farmers in Yüksekova Demand Pastures and Market Access
· Google Haberler
At a farmer meeting in Yüksekova, Hakkari, female producer Esma Sırma directly addressed officials about the lack of pastures, water, and sales areas for women shepherds (berivans).
The Heavy Burden of Female Producers
At a widely attended farmer meeting in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari, female farmer Esma Sırma directly conveyed the difficulties faced by women producers in the region to the officials. Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by the Chairman of the Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers (TZOB), Şemsi Bayraktar, Esma Sırma drew attention to the gender distribution in the hall:
"Currently, there are 300 men sitting here, not a single woman. All the women have gone to milk sheep and work in the garden."
Sırma stated that women bear the heaviest burden of agricultural production and animal husbandry in the rural areas of Eastern Anatolia.
Water and Pasture Problems
Emphasizing that the berivans (female shepherds) in the region are deprived of basic human and professional infrastructure needs, Esma Sırma voiced the deficiencies in their work areas. Addressing the lack of resting areas, shade, and irrigation facilities, the female farmer Esma Sırma called for pasture improvement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the TZOB management:
"We have no shade, the berivans have no shade. There is no sheep pasture development. It's all women's work. We can't drink enough water when we go to the sheep; how will the sheep be watered? We can't drink enough water when we go to the garden; how will the garden be watered?"
Demand for Cooperatives and Market
Stating that the agricultural potential of Yüksekova's lands should be evaluated and support for the region should be increased, Female Farmer Esma Sırma said:
"Yüksekova is gold, it is Turkey's wealth, it is Turkey's future. Please show a little more attention to our Yüksekova."
To enable female producers to deliver their agricultural and handmade products directly to consumers, Female Farmer Esma Sırma requested the establishment of cooperative-supported sales areas and called for the creation of a local market:
"We don't have a market. I want a market for the women. Please, let us have a public market."