Watermelon fight

In Adana, which alone meets 25 percent of Türkiye's watermelon needs, the harvest of geographically registered early-season watermelons has begun. It was reported that the watermelon, which is sold for 20-24 lira per kilo in the field, is exported abroad as well as in the domestic market.

The manufacturer is happy with current sales. Here is what they said:

“The cost of a kilogram of watermelon is 12 lira. These prices save us, but if the price of a kilogram of watermelon drops to 7-8 or 10 lira, we will always lose money,” they say.

Türkiye, which ranks second in world watermelon production after China with 4.5 million tons, meets 25 percent of its watermelon needs. The early season watermelon harvest in Adana, which meets 25 percent of its watermelon needs, began in the Kapı Neighborhood of the Karataş district on the coast. It was stated that while 5-6 tons of yield was obtained from watermelon planted on an area of ​​150 thousand acres this year, a yield of 8-10 tons was expected in the plain harvest and a yield of close to 1 million 100 thousand tons in the city as a whole. It was noted that watermelon, which is sold for 20-24 lira per kilo in the field, is exported to many European and Balkan countries, primarily Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Germany, in addition to the domestic market. Regarding the harvest, Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture President Mehmet Akın Doğan said, "Last year, the harvest started 10 days early, but this year it started late due to cold weather. We are currently getting 5-6 tons of yield per acre. The price of watermelon per kilogram this year is between 20-24 liras and this price makes the farmers happy.

"Right now, watermelons have started to be sent all over the country and are being sent abroad. Black, seedless watermelons will come out in the first week of June. This year, watermelon planting is 20 percent more than last year," he said.

Doğan, who also reacted to the recent statements of the Karataş Chamber of Agriculture, saying that 'Adana watermelon is sold for 7 liras per kilogram', said, "The chamber president who announced this announced a very wrong price.

"It is not possible for the price to be 7 liras. The price of a watermelon per kilogram varies according to its size. A small watermelon is sold for 20 liras per kilogram, and a large watermelon is sold for 24 liras. It is not possible to sell a watermelon for 7 liras," he said.

Producer Cumali Ardınç, who plants watermelons on an area of ​​300 acres, stated that they are satisfied with the prices and said, "The prices are good right now.

"The price of a kilogram of watermelon is sold for 20-24 liras and we are happy with it. The cost of a kilogram of watermelon is 12 liras. These prices save us, but if the price of a kilogram of watermelon drops to 7-8 or 10 liras, we will always lose money," he said.