The Xurs region of Mardin’s Kızıltepe district is a geography known for its historical stone houses, rugged terrain and tobacco production tradition that has lasted for generations. This region, which includes dozens of villages, is largely made up of families who make their living from tobacco farming.

However, the restrictions imposed on tobacco planting and sales in recent years have deeply shaken both the economic security and agricultural production motivation of producers living in Xurs villages.

Small land, big labor

The most fundamental characteristic of the villages in the Xurs region is that their agricultural lands are small and limited. For this reason, tobacco stands out as the product that brings the most income for the villagers. Villagers who suffer losses when they plant corn, wheat or another product can only make money from tobacco.

Income loss increased with tobacco bans

Legal regulations and restrictions imposed on the planting, processing and sale of tobacco have tied the hands of the villagers.

The risk of facing penal sanctions when making sales forces many producers to either abandon production or turn to illegal means.

Tobacco producer Şeyhmus Kızıldağ, who lives in the Xurs region, explains the process to Şoperêç as follows:

“The tobacco case is dead, let’s see what we will do! We have been making a living from this business for years. Now our children see no future in tobacco, they go to the city.”