Türkiye faces critical shepherd shortage, sector turns to foreign workers
Over 3,200 shepherds were certified in Türkiye last year, Türkiye, January 15, 2022 (AA Photo)
As Türkiye transitions to a new support model aimed at boosting productivity and quality in livestock farming, the demand for shepherds has now surpassed shortages in many other professions.
According to the Open Job Statistics Research Results for the second quarter of 2024, there were 99,991 open positions in the manufacturing sector, 62,489 in wholesale and retail trade and 35,908 in accommodation and food service activities.
However, the livestock sector stands out with the most pressing shortage, requiring 150,000 shepherds.
Despite competitive salaries, the shortage of shepherds persists. Various measures, including employment support and training programs, have been implemented to address the issue.
Nevertheless, farm owners struggling to find local shepherds are increasingly turning to foreign workers, particularly Afghan migrants, to fill the gap.
Nihat Celik, President of the Turkish Sheep and Goat Breeders Central Union (TUDKIYEB), highlighted that approximately 50,000 shepherds are currently employed in Türkiye.
“To ensure the sustainability of the sector, we need 150,000 shepherds,” Celik noted. “The shortage remains a significant issue, though we are aware that ministries are working on it. We urge these efforts to be expedited. Our goal is to promote local shepherding and facilitate the legal employment of foreign shepherds.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, added that through the ‘herd manager employment support’ program, over 660 million Turkish lira has been disbursed to more than 71,000 businesses to date.
Additionally, more than 50,000 certified shepherds have completed their training to meet the needs of the 400,000 active small livestock enterprises across the country.
