The early watermelon harvest has begun in Adana

Watermelons, sold at 11-12 lira per kilogram in the fields, are being loaded onto trucks and sent to all parts of Turkey.

The harvest of early watermelons, which accounts for 25% of the country's total watermelon production of 4 million tons, began in the Kapı Mahallesi district of Karataş, located on the seaside. It was reported that about 700,000 tons of yield are expected this year from approximately 105,000 hectares of watermelon planted in the city. Watermelons, sold at 11-12 lira per kilogram in the fields, are exported not only to the domestic market but also to Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Russia.

"4-5 tons of yield per acre"

During the harvest, Mehmet Akın Doğan, President of the Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture, said to the İhlas News Agency, "After China, the highest watermelon production in the world takes place in Adana. Watermelons have reached maturity for harvest. Currently, watermelons are priced between 10-12 lira in the fields. Currently, the overseas gates are open, but the yield of early watermelons is a bit low. Currently, a yield of 4-5 tons per acre is obtained. When the harvest starts in the plain, the yield will reach 8-9 tons."

Explaining that the farmer's cost per acre is 35,000 lira, Doğan said, "Prices are currently quite good. The cost to the farmer per kilogram is 9-9.5 lira. Our farmers cannot make a profit if they sell watermelons for less than 11-12 lira. Harvest will begin in the plain at the beginning of June, and the harvest will be abundant."

"Watermelons should not be harvested before reaching maturity"

Emphasizing that the raw watermelon teams inspect the fields, Doğan said the following:

"Our farmers will apply to the district agricultural directorates before harvesting their watermelons and will harvest after obtaining their approval. Raw watermelon teams will prevent raw watermelons from entering the market. Adana watermelon is famous for its taste, color, smell, and aroma. This year, the cultivation area has increased compared to last year. When our farmers make money from watermelons, the cultivation area increases. If the weather does not get extremely hot, watermelon prices will continue like this. If our farmers make money this year, the cultivation area will increase. If raw watermelons are not broken, prices will not drop. Watermelons should not be harvested before reaching maturity. Farmers and traders should pay attention to this."