The effects of the 2023 earthquake in Turkey on seasonal agricultural workers: The example of Kahramanmaraş province

Since the dawn of humanity, the earth has been confronted with various natural disasters. The most significant of these are earthquakes, floods, avalanches, volcanic activity, and other similar events. Turkey, located in a seismic zone, has experienced very severe earthquakes at various times. The most recent earthquake, centered in Kahramanmaraş and known as the "disaster of the century," resulted in significant loss of life and property. This earthquake, whose aftermath affected all socioeconomic sectors, impacted both the general economy and regional agriculture and its economy. This study investigates the impact of this disaster on seasonal agricultural work, a crucial component of regional agriculture. Because the regional production pattern relies heavily on manpower and Turkey's lag behind in adopting modern and mechanized agricultural practices, seasonal agricultural work is crucial for the sustainability of production. This study investigates the impact of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake on seasonal agricultural workers. For this purpose, we aimed to determine the impact and difficulties experienced by seasonal agricultural workers and their families in the Onikişubat, Pazarcık, Dulkadiroğlu, and Türkoğlu districts of Kahramanmaraş province, and to propose appropriate solutions. As part of the study, surveys were prepared and administered to agricultural workers in the Kahramanmaraş region, addressing the challenges experienced by seasonal agricultural workers during earthquakes, including working hours, housing, health, the impact of the agricultural lands in their areas of employment, and post-earthquake shelter, education, and social support. Data obtained from the surveys were interpreted using chi-square analysis. Consequently, the relatively rugged terrain in Kahramanmaraş limits the use of technological resources, necessitating the employment of seasonal agricultural workers. In the earthquake, which affected 11 provinces, including the study area, 68.22% of the workers reported living in Kahramanmaraş, while the others reported living in surrounding provinces, with 62.62% of these workers reporting being directly affected by the earthquake. In the analyses, whether the area not directly affected is far from the epicenter or has survived with less damage plays a significant role in the direct impact. Chi-square analysis revealed a discrepancy between the criteria for earthquake impact and the belief in damage and crop loss in agricultural areas, difficulties in obtaining workers and agricultural inputs, increased agricultural input prices, housing problems, and consideration of migration