12.05.2026 09:45
A solution has been developed to address the shepherd crisis in the livestock sector in Erzincan. In the city, where shepherd salaries have risen to 150,000 Turkish Lira, shepherds brought from Afghanistan under a project by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security have started working at businesses for minimum wage. The project, implemented for the first time in Turkey, is expected to expand to other provinces.
A remarkable practice has been implemented to address the shepherd shortage in Erzincan's livestock sector. To solve the long-standing labor shortage faced by producers engaged in small and large livestock farming in the city, shepherds were brought from Afghanistan.
SHEPHERD COSTS CHALLENGED PRODUCERS
Producers stated that shepherd wages have ranged between 70,000 and 150,000 lira per month in recent years, creating a significant economic burden.
It was noted that livestock enterprises, especially in rural areas, have great difficulty finding shepherds to work.
STARTED DUTY THROUGH İŞKUR
To solve the problem, through the initiatives of Efraim Beydili and Muzaffer Güzer, labor was procured from Afghanistan within the framework of a process carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
It was learned that Muhammad Omar, an Afghan national who came to Erzincan under the practice, signed a contract with herd owner Serhat Elçi and started working after his insurance procedures were completed through İŞKUR.
CAN BE APPLIED IN OTHER PROVINCES AS WELL
Producers expressed their hope that the practice would solve the labor shortage in the sector.
It is considered that this remarkable practice in the livestock sector could become widespread in other provinces in the future.