Video (2min 50sec): Increased Desertification of Turkey's Arable Land. It used to be regarded as one of Turkey's best growing regions. However, vast sinkholes are now appearing across what was once the country's agricultural heartland. Drought, shrinking water levels and more thirsty crops, mean the rich arable land is literally turning to dust. Hoda Abdel-Hamid reports from Konya, one of the region's where desertification of arable land is most evident.
"This vast area used to be the fifth largest lake here in Turkey. Now, over the past decade it began to slowly shrink. Experts say it's thanks to 'global warming'. Now this bit where I'm standing, now, just two months ago was still covered with some water. Now, it's completely dried out and the soil is already cracked and arid.
"Nearly a dozen other lakes and wet lands have dried up and disappeared over the past few years. Farmers still remember the days when plentiful water was not an issue." Farmer: "There was water 7 to 8 meters deep, full of lobsters and crabs. Now our crops have dropped, there is no humidity and it rains very little now. Not enough. The quality of our fruits have gone down."
