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- October 13, 202617°
- BIST10012,151-0.94%
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- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
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- October 13, 202617°
Rainfall in Lake Van Basin raises harvest hopes, bringing smiles to farmers
After last year's drought, above-average rainfall in the Lake Van Basin has revived pastures and boosted yield expectations for grains and fodder crops. Farmers are hoping to both meet their livestock's feed needs and generate income.
Following the severe drought of 2024-2025, this year’s rainfall has revived farmland and pastures in the Lake Van Basin. Producers are expecting high yields in grains and fodder crops.
As the grass-cutting season begins, farmers are setting aside some of the cut grass for animal feed, while baling the rest and selling it at prices between 100 and 150 lira per bale.
Experts Offer Hopeful Assessment
Prof. Dr. Murat Tunçtürk, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, said that agricultural production in the region has fluctuated since 2022 due to global warming. However, he emphasized that the roughly 270 millimeters of rainfall in the first six months of this year marks a huge increase compared to the same period last year (about 100 mm).
“We forecast that the wheat yield, which was 136 kilograms per decare last year, will reach 300 kilograms this year. For alfalfa, we expect over 200 kilograms per decare. Wheat stalks have already reached 90-100 centimeters,” Tunçtürk said.
Noting that the region is home to approximately 3.5 million sheep and 150,000 cattle, Tunçtürk added that natural vegetation in pastures has also benefited from the abundant rainfall. He remarked that the fill rates of groundwater and surface water resources are at encouraging levels, saying, “Streams, creeks, and dams are full; we think we will get better results in irrigated agriculture this year.”
Farmers Are Smiling
Gürpınar Chamber of Agriculture President Faruk Şamiloğlu said the district has seen such heavy rainfall for the first time in many years, and that Zernek Dam has reached a record fill rate. “Dried-up water sources have started flowing again. The sounds of birds and water highlight nature’s beauty, which lifts farmers’ spirits,” he said, predicting that the harvest could be delayed by 15-20 days due to cool May weather but that yields will be much higher.
Farmer Halis Yoğun from Parmakkapı neighborhood said this year’s rains have pleased them and crops are developing healthily. “This is our only livelihood. We sell hay bales for 100 lira and a ton of green grass for 15,000 lira. If the rain continues like this, we will keep producing, and there will be no out-migration,” he said.
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