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Mehmet Akın Doğan, Head of the Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture, announced that watermelon was planted on 150 thousand decares of land in Adana province this year and that they expect the price per kilogram to be 10 liras during the harvest period. Adana, which has an important place in Türkiye’s watermelon production, is expected to provide a good income to its farmers this year.
In Adana, which meets 25 percent of the country’s watermelon need alone, there is a short time left to harvest. Mehmet Akın Doğan, Head of the Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture, said that watermelon was planted on 150 thousand decares of land this year and they expect the price per kilogram to be 10 liras.
Türkiye, which ranks second in the world watermelon production with 4.5 million tonnes after China, meets 25 percent of the watermelon need in Adana, where seedlings met with the soil. Watermelon planted in 150 thousand decares of land this year is expected to be harvested after 2-3 weeks. Farmers aim to get an average yield of 7-8 tonnes from watermelon, which is expected to be 10 liras per kilogram in the field during the harvest period.
‘Watermelons are in good condition’
Pointing out that Adana will meet 25 percent of Türkiye’s watermelon production this year, Doğan said, “The earliest watermelon plantings in the country were made in Adana region. This year, Adana alone will meet 25 percent of the watermelon production. Our country is the biggest watermelon production centre after China. This year, there was a 4-day agricultural frost in our Çukurova region in February. However, only 10 percent of the watermelons were planted at that time and some of those watermelons were damaged. The watermelons planted afterwards are in good condition.”
‘If the doors abroad are open, our farmers will earn money’
Highlighting that watermelon producers were happy last year, Doğan explained, “Watermelon harvest was a little delayed due to the cold weather. In the second week of May, the harvest will start in Bahçe and Tuzla neighbourhoods of Karataş district. The cost of a decare of our farmer here is 30 thousand liras. When our farmers get an average yield of 7-8 tonnes and the price per kilogram is sold for 10 liras, our farmers will make money. Last year, watermelon went abroad due to the European Football Championship and our farmers made money. If the doors abroad are open this year, our farmers will earn money too.”
‘We will make the Adana watermelon a world brand’
Emphasising that they are making efforts to make Adana watermelon a brand, President Doğan said, “In 2024, there was watermelon cultivation on 132 thousand decares. This year, there is watermelon cultivation over 150 thousand decares. We have received the registration of Adana watermelon, and hopefully, if we receive registration from Europe in the coming years, we will make Adana watermelon a world brand.”
