Employee battle in Alanya: No one left to work!
It is becoming increasingly difficult to find workers for agriculture in Alanya. The lack of interest from the younger population and the absence of incentives are deepening this issue. Chairman of the Alanya Agricultural Chamber, Tahir Göktepe, stated that the reason for this problem is that many workers have moved to the tourism sector.
In Alanya, while there is a shortage of workers in every sector, agriculture and tourism are now in a race to attract employees. Workers from the tourism sector are shifting to agriculture due to its year-round nature, while workers from the agricultural sector are leaving for tourism, as they find it easier and more profitable. Additionally, climate change, population growth, and the expansion of residential areas into rural zones are increasing the pressure on the agricultural sector. The reduction in water resources and rising abnormal temperatures are also threatening farmlands. Moreover, the absence of young people to replace the aging population in agriculture and livestock poses a significant threat to the sector.
COMPETITION BETWEEN TOURISM AND AGRICULTURE
Chairman Göktepe pointed out that the shortage of workers in agriculture has never ended, stating: "We always face a worker shortage. Due to the topographic nature of the region, we can't use much machinery on the fields and always need human labor". He added: "In neighboring districts, the problem isn't as severe. The reason for our sector's difficulties is tourism. In summer, everyone wants to work there".
WORKER SHORTAGE HAS CHANGED PRIORITIES
Due to the worker shortage, producers have shifted to methods requiring less labor, said Göktepe. "Agriculture is very labor-intensive, so workers prefer tourism. However, because of this labor intensity, we have reduced greenhouse farming to one season, which we primarily do in the winter. Due to high input costs and the shortage of intermediate workers, our producers are increasingly turning to tropical products, such as avocados and bananas".
