KIZILTEPE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

ACCORDING TO MARDİN ARTUKLU UNIVERSIY’s CHAMBERS/EXCHANGE RESEARCH, AGRICULTURAL CAPACITY IS INSUFFICIENT AND INEFFICIENTLY USED IN MARDIN

Mardin Province/Districts Chambers/Commodity Exchanges (Kızıltepe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kızıltepe Commodity Exchange, Mardin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nusaybin Commodity Exchange, Nusaybin Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Mardin Artuklu University Public, Private and Mixed Sector Cooperation Coordinatorship (MAÜKÖK) conducted a field study on the Agriculture and Livestock Structure of Mardin.             

The research which was conducted under the coordinatorship of MAU Department of Economics Faculty Member, MAÜKÖK Coordinator, TOBB/TEPAV, Mardin Province/Districts Chamber/Exchange Academic Advisor Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Behzat Ekinci and with the contributions of the students of the Department of Economics is a joint work of Mardin Province/Districts Chambers/Exchanges with Mardin Artuklu University (MAU).

With this field study carried out with the participating companies of the 7th International Mardin Agricultural Equipment, Food and Livestock Fair (Magrotex 2021) which was held on 27-30 October 2021, the problems related to the agriculture and livestock structure of Mardin were determined from the perspective of companies closely related to these sectors, It is aimed to put forward the relevant solution proposals.

In the research conducted by face-to-face survey method with a total of 23 exhibitor companies, 8 of which are from Mardin and 15 from outside of Mardin (Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Çorum, Diyarbakır, Istanbul, Konya, Manisa, Maraş, Sinop, Urfa), an attempt was made to find answers to the following 2 (two) main questions.

1. What are your evaluations (capacity/problems) regarding the agriculture and livestock structure in Mardin?
2. What can be done to solve the problems related to agriculture and animal husbandry in Mardin?

The answers given within the scope of the questionnaire were collated and evaluated by determining the general situation.

The results of the research are as follows:

• Firms state that the agriculture and animal husbandry capacity in Mardin is not at the required level.
• However, they find that agricultural capacity is still higher when compared to livestock. One of the reasons stated for the inadequacy of this capacity is the increasing rate of urbanization.
•  On the other hand, it is stated that there is a lot of information pollution and prejudices regarding the execution of agricultural activities. It is stated that despite the existence of fertile lands in the city, no conscious agricultural activity has been carried out.
• In this context, it is stated that there is a lack of information on irrigation and fertilization, and that there is a high level of ignorance about agricultural irrigation.
•  The high cost of raw materials such as fertilizer, pesticides, fuel, etc. in agriculture is one of the issues that has been particularly emphasized. It is revealed that these high and continuous price increases have regressed both agriculture and animal husbandry. Another issue stated is that power cuts hinder agricultural activities.
• The incompleteness of the The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) is another problem noted.

Firms are making some proposals to solve the problems related to the food, agriculture and livestock structure in Mardin. Some of them are as follows:

• Since the participating companies draw high attention to the problem of unawareness regarding the execution of agriculture and livestock activities, they first give place to the issue of education in order to solve it.
• As a matter of fact, they summarize it as “Everyone who says I am an agriculturalist must be properly educated”.
• In this process, they point out that other relevant institutions, especially the Provincial/District Directorates of Agriculture and Livestock, should play an important role.
• Mentioning the need to provide some financial opportunities in order to increase the interest in agriculture and animal husbandry, the participants underscored that there is a need to increase the support for agricultural inputs/raw materials such as fertilizer, pesticides, etc.
• Product promotion is also required in order to contribute to the increase of agricultural activities. In this context, it is stated that the wheat grown in Mardin and the products produced from it (bulgur, semolina, pasta, etc.) should be promoted abroad.
• Attention is drawn to the necessity of expanding the village pastures in order to increase animal husbandry. For this purpose, the issue of support for animal feed, medicine, etc. were raised as well.
• The prompt completion of the irrigation and electricity projects within the scope of the GAP Project is one of the issues that has been expressed with particular importance.

Mardin Artuklu University and Mardin Province/Districts Chambers/Exchanges stated that by making such collaborations, similar studies including determinations, evaluations and economic policy proposals regarding the city and the region will be continued.