<p>The devastating <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/turkey-syria-earthquake" target="_blank">earthquake that hit</a> southern <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/turkey" target="_blank">Turkey </a>and neighbouring <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/syria" target="_blank">Syria </a>in February damaged more than 20 per cent of Turkey's agricultural production, the UN's food agency said Friday.</p>.<p>The 7.8-magnitude quake on February 6, and its aftershocks, killed more than 55,000 people and left many more in dire conditions.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/turks-look-to-history-and-foresee-rebirth-of-ancient-antakya-from-earthquake-ruins-1198024.html" target="_blank">Turks look to history and foresee rebirth of ancient Antakya from earthquake ruins</a></strong></p>.<p>The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said initial assessments in Turkey revealed "severe damage to agriculture, including crops, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as rural infrastructure in affected areas".</p>.<p>"The earthquake severely impacted 11 key agricultural provinces affecting 15.73 million people and more than 20 per cent of the country's food production," it said in a statement.</p>.<p>"The earthquake-affected region, known as Turkey's 'fertile crescent', accounts for nearly 15 per cent of agricultural GDP and contributes to almost 20 per cent of Turkey's agrifood exports."</p>.<p>It estimated the quake had caused $1.3 billion in damage, through the destruction of infrastructure, livestock and crops, and $5.1 billion in losses to the agricultural sector.</p>.<p>When the earthquake hit, buildings collapsed, crops were damaged and animals were killed, but the resulting devastation also created shortages of barns, food and vaccines for livestock that survived.</p>.<p>The shortage of workers is also having an impact, with particular concerns as the summer harvest season draws closer.</p>.<p>The FAO is appealing for $112 million to help quake-affected communities in Turkey, including $25 million under a wider UN appeal issued in February to provide cash, livestock and agricultural support to 900,000 people in rural areas.</p>.<p>"The planting season deadline is approaching. We need to urgently support our farmers by providing fertilisers and seeds," said FAO coordinator Viorel Gutu.</p>.<p>"This is our only chance to maintain crop production levels this year. We also need to provide animals with feed to maintain their health and productivity."</p>.<p>The FAO said more than one-third of the population in the hardest-hit areas relied on agriculture to survive.</p>
<p>The devastating <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/turkey-syria-earthquake" target="_blank">earthquake that hit</a> southern <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/turkey" target="_blank">Turkey </a>and neighbouring <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/syria" target="_blank">Syria </a>in February damaged more than 20 per cent of Turkey's agricultural production, the UN's food agency said Friday.</p>.<p>The 7.8-magnitude quake on February 6, and its aftershocks, killed more than 55,000 people and left many more in dire conditions.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/turks-look-to-history-and-foresee-rebirth-of-ancient-antakya-from-earthquake-ruins-1198024.html" target="_blank">Turks look to history and foresee rebirth of ancient Antakya from earthquake ruins</a></strong></p>.<p>The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said initial assessments in Turkey revealed "severe damage to agriculture, including crops, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as rural infrastructure in affected areas".</p>.<p>"The earthquake severely impacted 11 key agricultural provinces affecting 15.73 million people and more than 20 per cent of the country's food production," it said in a statement.</p>.<p>"The earthquake-affected region, known as Turkey's 'fertile crescent', accounts for nearly 15 per cent of agricultural GDP and contributes to almost 20 per cent of Turkey's agrifood exports."</p>.<p>It estimated the quake had caused $1.3 billion in damage, through the destruction of infrastructure, livestock and crops, and $5.1 billion in losses to the agricultural sector.</p>.<p>When the earthquake hit, buildings collapsed, crops were damaged and animals were killed, but the resulting devastation also created shortages of barns, food and vaccines for livestock that survived.</p>.<p>The shortage of workers is also having an impact, with particular concerns as the summer harvest season draws closer.</p>.<p>The FAO is appealing for $112 million to help quake-affected communities in Turkey, including $25 million under a wider UN appeal issued in February to provide cash, livestock and agricultural support to 900,000 people in rural areas.</p>.<p>"The planting season deadline is approaching. We need to urgently support our farmers by providing fertilisers and seeds," said FAO coordinator Viorel Gutu.</p>.<p>"This is our only chance to maintain crop production levels this year. We also need to provide animals with feed to maintain their health and productivity."</p>.<p>The FAO said more than one-third of the population in the hardest-hit areas relied on agriculture to survive.</p>