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Pelin Barlas (33), who graduated from university in Istanbul and returned to her family in Antalya, established a farm five years ago after noticing the supply problem faced by consumers wanting buffalo milk during her period of unemployment. Starting her farming life with 11 buffalo, including 3 breeding females, Barlas became the owner of her own business thanks to the income from the milk she obtained from 70 buffalo, spending her days cleaning the barn and feeding the animals. Until recently, the high buffalo population has rapidly decreased. The number of buffalo in Turkey, which was over 1 million in the 1960s, was recorded as 121,077 in 2022. The number of buffalo, which showed slight increases and decreases over the years, peaked at 192,489 in 2020. The number of buffalo, which used to be found all over Turkey and has recently decreased, was recorded as 158,514 this year. TURNED THE CHALLENGE OF OBTAINING BUFFALO MILK INTO AN OPPORTUNITYThe decrease in population and the food supply problem faced by those who prefer to consume buffalo milk and products inspired young entrepreneurs. After graduating from the communication faculty of a private university in Istanbul in 2015, Pelin Barlas returned to her family in Antalya and spent four years searching for a job related to her profession. During her unemployment, Barlas discovered the difficulty of obtaining milk and dairy products after the decline in buffalo farming and turned this problem into an opportunity. INCREASED HER ANIMALS BY SELLING BUFFALO MILKActivating her father's idle farm in Antalya, which he established in the 1980s and could not continue after a while, Barlas bought 11 buffalo, including 3 breeding females, in 2019. With the income from buffalo milk sales, Barlas quickly increased the number of animals, living in a container on the farm and spending her days caring for the animals. In five years, Barlas reached a total of 70 buffalo and 15 cows, taking pride in being her own boss despite the challenges of farming by feeding the animals daily and cleaning their barns. CONTINUED LEARNING IN HER NEW PROFESSIONTo succeed in her new profession, Barlas continued her education, graduating from the Laboratory and Veterinary Health Department of Anadolu University Open Education Faculty during her time in animal husbandry, and is currently pursuing agricultural technology studies. Barlas, who covers the expenses of her farm with daily milk sales, mentioned that she wants to increase the number of animals as her income grows.  Pelin Barlas, who stated that her close circle thought she couldn't do this job in the early days of buffalo farming, said, "After graduating, our barn was empty during my job search. My father had been a livestock farmer in the 1980s. I didn't want to waste my time by just getting a cow. Following my father's advice, we bought buffalo. In 2019, we had 11 buffalo, and now we have reached 70. I love what I do. My close circle thought I couldn't do it. My customers are surprised when they see me. In the mornings, I milk the animals, package the milk, and feed the calves. After feeding the animals, I take some time for myself, even if it's little. In the evenings, I do the same milking, feeding, and caring for the calves. Some people ask, 'Doesn't the smell bother you?' When I enter the barn, I don't smell it because I've gotten used to it. I love the animals and farming," she said.
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