After Konya, Now Eskişehir Faces a 20-Meter Sinkhole in Farmland 🌍🌾

A large sinkhole, measuring 20 meters deep and 5 meters in diameter, has appeared in a sunflower field in the rural Sadıroğlu neighborhood of Eskişehir’s Çifteler district. Farmer Erkan Ceylan, the owner of the field, discovered the sinkhole while collecting drip irrigation equipment. Startled by the sight, he immediately informed officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Representatives from the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) also visited the site to assess the situation.

Ceylan expressed his concern, stating that the sinkhole could have caused serious damage if it had gone unnoticed, especially with the harvest season approaching. “If we hadn’t noticed it, the sinkhole might have swallowed our combine harvester during the sunflower harvest,” he remarked. This is the first time such an occurrence has been reported in the area.

Ender Muhammed Gümüş, the Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, confirmed that this is the third recorded sinkhole in Eskişehir. Gümüş pointed to the increasing frequency of sinkholes in regions where crops requiring large amounts of water are planted. He mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture is now implementing a plan to control the cultivation of water-intensive crops to prevent further environmental degradation.

As part of the ministry’s new strategy, farmers in areas with water shortages will receive financial support to transition to more sustainable practices. The aim is to reduce the strain on groundwater reserves and prevent the formation of new sinkholes. Eskişehir is one of the 11 provinces in Turkey identified as having water-restricted areas, and six of its districts are included in the plan.

With sinkholes becoming more common due to excessive water extraction from underground aquifers, this incident in Eskişehir highlights the urgent need for sustainable farming practices. Authorities are hopeful that these new regulations and incentives will help farmers reduce water consumption while maintaining their income levels. In the meantime, Ceylan plans to fill the sinkhole with soil after completing his harvest to ensure the safety of the land.