Kahramanmaraş Province Current Situation Analysis Summary

Kahramanmaraş is an important agricultural province in southeastern Turkey with diverse agroecological zones suitable for the production of cereals, sugar beet, pulses and industrial crops as well as high-value products such as walnuts and Maraş pepper.

Across the province there is a distinct livestock production infrastructure and a developing aquaculture sector. The agro-industry sector supports local production through food processing, dairy production and feed manufacturing facilities. The province is showing increasing specialisation in fruit growing, especially apples, walnuts and pomegranates; in some districts greenhouse vegetable production is spreading. Small-scale agriculture and livestock are becoming more widespread, highlighting the need for infrastructure development in these areas. In aquaculture, development potential is observed in terms of capacity and operations. Seasonal labour needs are critical for the continuity of agricultural production.

Effects of the Earthquake on Agricultural Infrastructure and Production

The February 2023 earthquake had multi-dimensional consequences in Kahramanmaraş, affecting agricultural production capacity, agricultural labour availability, producers’ market access and agricultural infrastructure. The earthquake caused serious damage to agricultural production infrastructure as well as irrigation infrastructure and irrigation systems, especially in rural areas. Some farmers temporarily lost access to water and had to switch to rain-fed systems. Unless existing irrigation systems are improved, this situation limits intensive agricultural production and creates risks for long-term agricultural production.

Stable or increasing production volumes in some products (such as durum wheat, walnuts and aquaculture) are based on long-term trends and harvests from less earthquake-affected areas rather than full recovery in these products. In the post-earthquake period, damage to and/or destruction of animal shelters in rural areas, problems in feed supply and disruptions in access to markets for products have caused significant problems in the livestock sector. Nevertheless, the fact that there was no significant decline in total animal numbers in 2024 shows that emergency interventions such as feed distribution and shelter support have limited short-term potential losses.

Vulnerable Groups and Resilience

While Kahramanmaraş’s agricultural structure shows a certain resilience from an institutional and social perspective, it contains vulnerabilities for small-scale producers and those producing in climate-sensitive sub-sectors. As in Malatya and Adıyaman, small-scale producers with limited access to cooperatives or agricultural insurance systems were more negatively affected by the earthquake.

Labour, Training and Institutional Support

The departure of seasonal and temporary labour from the region due to the earthquake caused delays in sowing and harvest periods. Farmers reported difficulty in finding skilled labour, especially for tasks such as spraying, fruit harvesting and land preparation. Common demands of both large and small-scale producers include training needs in water-saving irrigation methods, climate-resilient farming techniques, low-chemical-input pest and disease control practices, and market access through marketing, branding and digital tools.

During the earthquake process, some cooperatives and producer associations took on important roles; they distributed animal tents, feed and animals, organised collection and transport of products to support marketing and provided low-cost seedling supply. Increasing the participation of women and young people in agricultural value chains is seen as critical both for gender equality and for the sustainability of the rural economy.

In conclusion, the agricultural recovery process in Kahramanmaraş requires multi-dimensional interventions such as modernisation of irrigation infrastructure, transition to climate-resilient crop patterns, strengthening of women- and youth-focused cooperatives and increased direct market access through digital marketing tools.