TZOB Agricultural land decreased to 23.9 million hectares

Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Turkey (TZOB) President Şemsi Bayraktar said, "The division of fertile agricultural lands into hobby gardens through cooperatives increases the fragmentation of agricultural lands. For whatever reason, it is not right to divide agricultural lands and to create settlements between large lands such as hobby gardens."

In a statement made on the occasion of the Soil Day, Şemsi Bayraktar, President of the Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Turkey (TZOB), pointed out that agricultural lands have decreased year by year and emphasized that the total amount of land in Turkey, including perennial plants, has decreased from 26.6 million hectares to 23.9 million hectares in the last 20 years.

Bayraktar said, "The division of fertile agricultural lands into hobby gardens through cooperative organizations further increases the fragmentation of agricultural lands. Whatever the reason, it is not right to divide agricultural lands and to create construction among large lands as in hobby gardens."

Bayraktar said, "In metropolitan areas, lands are divided into parcels of up to 250 square meters and hobby gardens are established. Agricultural areas are being destroyed with reinforced concrete constructions such as containers, prefabricated houses, tiny houses and pools built on these areas allocated to small parcels. There can be no valid explanation for these constructions. Although the fragmentation and division of land is prohibited under the Soil Conservation and Land Use Law, the increase in hobby gardens shows the inadequacy of inspections. These should be prevented by municipalities before concrete is poured on the land."