Şerafettin Kılıç: 'Frost Disaster Devastates Farmers in the Mediterranean Region'

Frost Devastates Agricultural Areas
Speaking at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Şerafettin Kılıç, Saadet Party MP for Antalya, described how Turkey experienced one of its coldest Februarys in recent years. He stressed that the agricultural frost has severely impacted farming in the Mediterranean Region. "There is significant damage to both planted and cultivated areas. Farmers’ crops have frozen, and fruits and vegetables have been destroyed. This disaster will not only affect farmers but also the national economy," Kılıç explained.

Food Inflation Will Skyrocket, Consumers Will Suffer
Kılıç warned that the frost disaster will have a ripple effect on consumers as well. "Food inflation is already at 56%, and if necessary measures aren’t taken, it will increase even more. Farmers are unable to produce, yields are dropping, and this will cause prices to soar. The solution is to support production and protect farmers," he stated.

Farmers Treated Like Stepchildren
Despite Turkey’s status as an agricultural and livestock nation, Kılıç emphasized that farmers have not been adequately supported. "The promises made after the disaster have not been kept. Our farmers are left without support. Agriculture is treated like a stepchild, and then people wonder why food inflation is increasing!" Kılıç criticized the government for neglecting farmers.

Wrong Agricultural Policies Worse Than Frost Disaster
Kılıç further criticized the country’s agricultural policies, claiming that they have pushed farmers away from production. "This system that crushes producers is more harmful than the frost disaster itself. Our farmers' hopes have frozen, their dreams are shattered. You must abandon this mindset that is destroying agriculture!" he added.

Proposal for Disaster Relief and Compensation
Kılıç presented the following suggestions to address the damages caused by the frost disaster and support affected farmers:

• All areas affected by the frost should be declared disaster zones.
• Farmers’ debts to banks and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives should be deferred without interest.
• The scope of TARSİM (Agricultural Insurance) should be expanded, and producers' losses should be compensated quickly.
• Immediate support and interest-free loans should be provided to farmers to continue production.

Kılıç concluded his speech with a call for action: "Do not leave our producers unsupported, give farmers the help they need!" He urged the acceptance of his proposal to address the crisis.