Turkey's growing sinkhole problem

There are over 730 sinkholes in central Turkey, and their numbers are surging, threatening farmers’ livelihoods and the country’s food supply chain. These sinkholes occur suddenly when the soil collapses, forming a gaping hole in the earth. The sinkholes are a symptom of the ongoing drought and unsustainable water extraction in Konya province, Turkey's agricultural heartland.

The production of water-thirsty crops such as sugar beet is prioritised in this region, which is used to make Turkey’s sugar. To irrigate these crops, farmers have had to rely on licensed and unlicensed wells tapping into the groundwater. Years of drought has meant that underground reserves cannot be renewed, making current farming practices unsustainable.

The increased formation of sinkholes is not a surprise for experts, who have been warning for years that extracting groundwater could tip the balance of nature. These sinkholes have not caused any deaths, but they are revealing that time is running out to save water and agriculture in this region.

Presenter: Zeynep Bilginsoy
Producers: Zeynep Bilginsoy and Esra Yalçınalp
Executive producers: Robert Nicholson and Emily Uchida Finch
A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service