Finding a shepherd to work for 70,000 TL per month in Elazığ has become a dream.

Shepherds in Elazığ have become increasingly difficult to find. Shepherds, who earn 70,000 lira per month and have their food, drink, shelter, and clothing covered by the herd owner, are also demanding a monthly 30 GB internet package. Despite producers meeting all their requests, they still cannot find shepherds to hire. The decrease in qualified labor in the livestock sector, along with urbanization, has led to traditional professions like shepherding no longer being preferred by younger generations. As a result, producers are facing significant difficulties while shepherds have become almost as valuable as gold. Shepherds, who earn 70,000 lira per month with their food, drink, shelter, and clothing provided by the producer, are also requesting a monthly 30 GB internet package. Despite herd owners accepting all their demands, they still cannot find shepherds. Nurettin Çelenk, who previously had 500 small ruminants but sold more than half of them due to the inability to find a shepherd, now tends to the remaining animals himself. Çelenk expressed that they can find gold but cannot find a shepherd, stating that shepherds who used to ask for phone credits are now demanding internet.

"RIGHT NOW WE ARE PAYING 70,000 TL PER MONTH"

Nurettin Çelenk, who stated that the majority of the Şavak tribe is engaged in livestock farming, said, "Recently, we have been facing a lot of difficulties due to the lack of shepherds. Our money has become worthless. Right now, we are paying 70,000 lira per month to a shepherd. We also provide 30 GB of internet monthly. Their food, drink, shelter, and clothing are our responsibility. Despite this, we still cannot find anyone. In this situation, those who are in a difficult position sell their animals. I used to have 500 sheep, but now I have 150. I take care of them with my own means and I shepherd myself," he said.

"YOU CAN FIND GOLD BUT YOU CANNOT FIND A SHEPHERD"

Çelenk emphasized that the shepherd is very important for them and that they cannot manage without one, saying, "How will he take care of and herd 500 sheep? None of our young people are doing it. Only those of us in middle age are doing it. We have loved it since childhood. We just can't let it go. Our tribe is very large. We reside in the triangle of Elazığ, Tunceli, and Erzincan. The costs of a shepherd have surpassed everything. This year, a shepherd competes with gold. We cannot buy gold. A man earns more gold than us with his salary. He earns more than a civil servant. He earns a net of 70,000 lira. Now, a shepherd is worth his weight in gold. You can find gold, but you cannot find a shepherd," he said.

"I WILL HAVE 30 GB OF INTERNET PER MONTH"

Çelenk mentioned that shepherds used to ask for phone credits but have recently started asking for internet, saying, "He says he will have 30 GB of internet per month. I do not use 30 GB of internet in a month. The man comes and acts like a landlord to me. Because he is right, we are helpless. Whatever the man says, we accept. It is a difficult profession. You struggle in the mountains, hills, rain, and snow. By the time you reach 50, your knees and arms start to hurt. The man's bed is a goat skin. I have been a shepherd since I was 5 years old. I have dedicated 50 years of my life to this profession," he said.