Malatya introduces portable houses for nomadic herders

The Malatya Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry has launched the ‘Portable Shepherd House’ project to improve living conditions for nomadic families engaged in small ruminant livestock farming in high-altitude pastures.

For years, these herders relied on traditional hair tents, which left them vulnerable to heavy rain, snow, and wild animals. The new portable housing units provide more stable living spaces and are equipped with modern amenities, including solar panels, feeding troughs, and waterers, to support both the families and their livestock.

Local herder Ekrem Karadoğan noted that while the nomadic lifestyle is a multi-generational tradition, the hardships of living in tents—such as structural damage from hail and lack of basic sanitation—have historically made it difficult to retain younger generations in the profession.