Harvesting of grey pistachio, which is the first crop of pistachio, described as “green gold” in Southeastern Anatolia Region, has started.
The yield in Antep pistachio is expected to be high this season.
85 percent of peanut production in Turkey met in Southeastern Anatolia.
After the weather got warmer, the farmers were busy with the harvest.
Antep pistachio, produced in 22 provinces across Turkey, Şanlıurfa and Gaziantep are on top of that, is the favourite crop of the farmers.
The head of Nizip (a district of Gaziantep province) Chamber of Agriculture, Sıddık Durmaz, said that the harvest had begun abundantly. Stating that the first pistachios collected are generally used in baklava and chocolate, Durmaz noted, “Now the grey pistachio harvest will be done and then the red beng pistachio harvest will be done respectively. All operations will continue until September. As it is known, pistachio has a ‘there year’, that means one year brings in high return, next year low return. But this year we have ‘there year’.”
Stating that the yield is at the desired level, Durmaz added, “I believe that the price of pistachios between 17-18 liras per kilogram will reach 20 liras and I think it should be. Because this product is our producers’ sweat.”
Hasan Naim, one of the local producers, explained that the pistachio requires effort and attention throughout the year and told that they are satisfied with the harvest.
Pointing out that the aroma of the pistachio grown in the region is very good, Naim concluded, “Pistachio is similar to neither American nor Iranian pistachio. Its flavour is not found in any country. It is sold for 18 liras in the market, but we expect it to be at least 20 liras.”