Frost disaster in Niğde leaves producers in a difficult situation

CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer visited farmers affected by the frost disaster in the Çamardı district. Gürer stated, "Agricultural frost has caused serious damage in the orchards, and this situation will also affect the coming years." He noted that in the region, which is particularly famous for its Misket apples, the crops have been largely destroyed this year.

Meeting with Niğde Chamber of Agriculture President Bilal Çınar, Gürer expressed that walnut trees have also suffered serious damage and that this could lead to a lack of yield for two years. Çınar said, "The walnut trees did not sprout, which is a major problem."

Bilal Deveci, an apple orchard owner in Çamardı, said, "Due to the frost this year, our products such as apples, apricots, and walnuts have been completely destroyed. No damage assessment has been carried out in our orchards, which makes things even harder for us." Deveci stated that farmers are unable to purchase pesticides and fertilizers because their agricultural credit lines are full, and this situation negatively affects production.

'WHEN THERE IS NO CROP, WORKERS DO NOT COME, AND TRADESPEOPLE CANNOT SELL PRODUCTS'

Gürer emphasized that the frost disaster has also created negative effects on agricultural workers and tradespeople. "Because there is no fruit this year, farmers cannot perform maintenance, which affects agricultural workers and tradespeople. When there is no crop, workers do not come, and tradespeople cannot sell products," he said.

Stating that the Niğde Provincial Directorates of Agriculture have not yet conducted assessment studies in Çamardı, Gürer called out, "Apple, cherry, and walnut orchards have been heavily affected by the frost. Assessments must be made as soon as possible."

Expressing that the frost disaster also damaged pear trees, Gürer said, "There is no crop on the pear trees this year either. A large portion of these trees will not bear fruit next year either." Stating that walnut trees were also seriously affected, Gürer added, "There will be no walnut harvest this year, and the situation is even uncertain for next year."

One producer stated that they have suffered tons of losses in total across cherries, apricots, apples, and walnuts, noting that there is no crop in their orchard at all this year.