Foot-and-mouth disease continues to cause concern

Following Kars and Ardahan, foot-and-mouth disease continues to spread in the Şavşat and Ardanuç districts of Artvin. This situation has become a serious source of concern in the region. CHP Artvin MP Uğur Bayraktutan visited Artvin to examine the situation on the ground and made important statements.

Bayraktutan stated, "The foot-and-mouth disease, which began in the Kars-Ardahan region and spread to Artvin, continues to victimize our producers. In my field observations, I saw that this issue was only taken seriously after it was reflected in the press. The late involvement of agricultural directorates in the process has left our citizens in a difficult situation."

Drawing attention to the economic difficulties faced by livestock producers, Bayraktutan said, "Producers are experiencing great distress due to debts for feed and animal loans. They are demanding that their debts to Ziraat Bank be deferred. The support and subsidies the state will provide in this regard are very important. Furthermore, medical support should be provided for the animals, and the problems regarding payments for private veterinary services should be resolved."

Stating that the state must demonstrate its understanding of a social welfare state, Bayraktutan remarked, "If the state is a social state, now is the time. Livestock producers must be supported against the grievances experienced in Ardanuç and Şavşat."