21.04.2025 10:21
Residents of İnanlı village in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari have started to graze their animals themselves using a rotation system, as they are unable to find a shepherd for a monthly salary of 70,000 TL. Last year, when a local shepherd could not be found, a shepherd was brought in from neighboring Iran, and the same issue is being faced this year. The villagers are grazing their animals by creating a rotation system among themselves.
Residents of İnanlı village in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari started to graze their animals themselves in a queue system when they couldn't find a shepherd for a monthly salary of 70,000 TL. Serkan Arpat, who grazes the herd in the pasture, stated that they brought a shepherd from neighboring Iran last year when they couldn't find a local shepherd, and they are facing the same problem this year.
THEY FORMED A QUEUE SYSTEM AMONG THEMSELVES
In the Yüksekova district, where winters are harsh, livestock owners have started to take their small livestock to the pastures as the weather warms up. Those engaged in animal husbandry in İnanlı and nearby villages cannot find shepherds. In a village with approximately 3,000 small livestock, animal owners who could not find a shepherd for a monthly salary of 70,000 TL for 6 months started to graze the herd by forming a queue system among themselves.
"LOCAL SHEPHERDS TAKE BETTER CARE OF SHEEP"
Serkan Arpat, who grazes small livestock in İnanlı village, stated that they brought a shepherd from neighboring Iran last year when they couldn't find a local shepherd, and they are facing the same problem this year. Arpat said, "Last year we were paying shepherds a monthly fee of 30,000 to 35,000 TL. This year we are offering 70,000 TL to local shepherds. Despite this, we still cannot find a local shepherd. Local shepherds take better care of the sheep. We are having difficulties with the shepherds we bring from outside because they are not familiar with the region."
As the weather warms up, we are grazing our small livestock in pastures close to the village. Since we cannot find a shepherd, for now, we are grazing our animals in the pasture by forming a queue system among ourselves. "In about 1.5 months, we will take our small livestock to the highlands," he said.
"IF WE CANNOT FIND A SHEPHERD, WE WILL BRING ONE FROM IRAN"
Yusuf Arpat, one of the villagers, stated that they would bring a shepherd from Iran if they could not find a local shepherd. Faruk Atlı also mentioned that there is a shepherd shortage in many villages of the district and that they are considering offering up to 70,000 TL to local shepherds.