Kahramanmaraş earthquake survivors turn to squash farming

Following the February 6 earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, local residents are transitioning from industrial labor to agricultural production to rebuild their livelihoods. Ali Şarlak, a former factory worker whose workplace was destroyed in the disaster, returned to his home village in the Bertiz Başdervişli neighborhood to cultivate squash.

Şarlak currently manages 3.5 acres of land, harvesting approximately 500 to 600 kilograms of squash daily. He distributes his produce to neighboring provinces, including Gaziantep, often pooling harvests with other local producers to facilitate transport via truck. The selling price for the squash ranges between 15 and 20 TL.

This shift reflects a broader trend in the region, where many earthquake survivors are returning to rural areas to engage in fruit and vegetable farming. In the Bertiz region alone, approximately 150 people have reportedly begun sustaining themselves through various agricultural activities, contributing to a revitalization of the local farming sector.