Surge in giant sinkholes threatens Turkey's farmers
8 hours ago
- #agriculture
- #water crisis
- #climate change
- Fatih Sik witnessed a massive sinkhole forming near his home in Karapınar, Konya, Turkey, a region prone to such occurrences due to its geological makeup.
- Konya, historically fertile and home to ancient civilizations, is now facing severe drought, with nearly 90% of Turkey at risk of desertification.
- Experts attribute the increasing number of sinkholes—now nearly 700 in the region—to dwindling rainfall, over-extraction of groundwater, and intensive agriculture.
- Climate change has accelerated the crisis, with record heat and low rainfall exacerbating water scarcity, leading to the loss of 186 lakes in the region over 60 years.
- Farmers like Sik are struggling with reduced water availability, forcing them to dig deeper wells and change irrigation practices, significantly increasing costs.
- Alternative farming methods, such as growing drought-resistant crops like hemp and reviving ancient dry-farming techniques, are being explored to mitigate the crisis.
- Dr. Ece Onur promotes dry farming, which relies on natural water reserves and deep root systems, as a sustainable solution for Turkey's agricultural future.
- Turkey's climate policies are deemed insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals, raising concerns as the country prepares to co-host the UN climate summit Cop31.