After giving up tomatoes and cucumbers, they started planting this: they are already exporting to 4 countries
Undercover producers have started growing a fruit that is well-loved and widely known in Turkey, instead of the labor-intensive and low-yielding products like tomatoes and cucumbers. This change allows them to harvest up to 4 tons per hectare.
Farmers in Mersin, who were not making enough income from vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, have come up with a new tactic.
GROWN IN GREENHOUSES IN MERSIN
In Mersin, the early harvest of "black mulberry" (karadut) continues, a fruit that is bringing a smile to producers' faces. This fruit, in demand both domestically and abroad, is sold for 80 TL per kilogram. Aysel Kara, a producer of mulberries, said, "We used to plant tomatoes in our garden. Tomatoes are more expensive and labor-intensive, but black mulberry is easier and has lower costs."
CITRUS SEASON ENDS
Mersin, which plays an important role in Turkey's fresh vegetable and fruit production, is also gaining attention for its early harvests. With the citrus season coming to an end, products grown under cover are now being harvested.
BLACK MULBERRY IS IN DEMAND
Previously, fruits like plums, apricots, and grapes were grown in greenhouses in Mersin. In recent years, greenhouses for growing black mulberry have also started to be established, as there is demand both from within the country and abroad.
Particularly in the last 4-5 years, black mulberry, which is grown under cover, yields 3-4 tons per hectare and is sold for 80 TL per kilogram, making it a profitable crop for producers. Since it does not require pesticides, black mulberry is considered a low-cost and low-maintenance crop, which makes the work easier for producers. The harvest in the black mulberry greenhouses in the Erdemli district is expected to continue until the end of May.
TOMATOES HAVE FALLEN OUT OF FAVOR DUE TO COSTS
Emine Yaman Kulu, an agricultural engineer, said that they started growing black mulberries in a greenhouse that used to produce tomatoes because the cost of tomato production required a significant economic investment. "We found black mulberry. We planted 60 trees per hectare in our greenhouse. Now, our trees are 2 years old. The harvest we have started will continue until the end of May," she said.
4 TONS PER HECTARE
Kulu stated, "The production is easy for both the producer and the workers who collect the harvest. Since there are no pests, no pesticides are used. It only requires feeding, as it is a water-loving crop. Currently, we expect 2.5 tons per hectare, but in the coming years, this amount will increase. It can go up to 4 tons per hectare. The price per kilogram is 80 TL".
BLACK MULBERRY DEMAND HAS SKYROCKETED
Kulu emphasized that there is a significant demand for the product, saying, "We send it to major cities like Antalya, Istanbul, and Izmir. It is also popular in Arab countries abroad. It goes to Dubai, Iraq, and Russia".
MORE PROFIT THAN TOMATOES
Aysel Kara, who is harvesting mulberries, said, "We used to plant tomatoes in our garden. Tomatoes are more expensive and labor-intensive, but black mulberry is easier, with lower costs. It brings more profit compared to tomatoes".
Kara added, "With tomatoes, you work 12 months a year. Here, however, there is only work for about 2-3 months during the harvesting and pruning periods. It is a fruit that pleases the farmer, and it can be used in many ways. It is made into molasses, jam, juice, and used in cakes".
