Planting cotton in Serê Kaniyê declined due to water's shortage

BERITAN MEDOUSA –SOZDAR KHALIL/AL_HASAKAH

Agriculture occupies a large area of land in al-Jazeera region in Rojava, particularly in Serê Kaniyê district belonging to al-Hasakah canton ,600 dunums have been planted by cotton, wheat and vegetables each year.

Serê Kaniyê district is distinguished by planting cotton, where 150 thousand dunums have been planted  with cotton in Serê Kaniyê district only, and in al-Jazeera region 121 thousands dunmus have been planted with cotton.

According to the information obtained by ANHA from the Agriculture Directorate and Livestock in Serê Kaniyê district, in 2012-2013-2014, cotton was not cultivated in Serê Kaniyê due to the battles that were taking place in the region and the closure of wells and the shortage of diesel. But after the announcement of autonomous administration, cotton cultivation was resumed again.

The weather situation as well as the Turkish state’s policies have negatively affected agriculture.

Although Autonomous Administration restored the spirit to agriculture, the weather and Turkish state policies in relation to ground and surface water were the reason why agriculture did not    reach the required level.

15% has allocated for planting cotton.

Water shortages directly affects agriculture. Cotton is a water-dependent crop and is irrigated 12 times a year. Due to lack of water, the Agriculture Directorate and Livestock decided to plant cotton in 15% of the 100 dunums have been allocated for growing cotton.

In the winter, cotton insect swept cotton crop.

In the context of the weather and its impact on agriculture, the region did not experience frost last winter, so the insect living  underground did not die, so the insect ate 75% of the cotton crop this year, farmers have had a great impact.

On the other hand, the rains did not fall in the winter, and in the last two months of spring, the region experienced torrential rain, where cotton crop and other crops have been severely damaged.

Administrator of Agriculture Directorate and Livestock in Serê Kaniyê district Abdul Salam Ismail Hassan said that the people who had grown their cotton in mid-April, their crops have witnessed some improvement, and that those who watered their cotton on May, their crop has declined.

Our decisions are in the public interest

Abdel Salam Ismail Hassan said at the end of his speech, "The region is experiencing a shortage of water, we appeal to farmers to abide by the decisions, which carries the importance of the public interest."

Our efforts went with the wind

Farmer Mohammed Khalaf Jawhar planted 80 dunums of cotton in Serê Kaniyê district, he is one of the farmers who became the victim of cotton insect for the cotton season.

Mahmoud pointed out that he had served his season well, and continued, "I sprayed the pesticides, watered it, and had strived to take care of it, because the area did not witness frost, the worm did not die attacking the cotton... so far I am interested in my season, in order to extract income from it, due to use of pesticides, sheep cannot eat cotton.

Direrctorate should delay payment debts for another year

Mahmoud asked for help from the Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock and said that it owes 6 thousand tons of seeds and now caused great damage "We want from directorate to help us and pay the debts for another year," he said, adding: "The weather could improve in another year and we could pay our debts.

The Agriculture Directorate and Livestock said that it is not possible to respond to the request on delaying the debts at the present time, as the members of the Directorate will check the season and conduct search for cotton fields.

(T/S)

ANHA