Erzin's 'black pearl' watermelon harvest begins as prices fall

In Turkey's fertile Hatay province, the watermelon harvest is underway in the Erzin district. Farmers are working through the season, facing challenges posed by heavy rains earlier in the year that affected crop yields.

Despite the adverse weather, farmers express satisfaction with the volume of the harvest. However, they also note damage caused by hail and a resulting decrease in prices. "We don't have a tonnage problem, but there is hail damage, and that affected us," said farmer Mahmut Tekin. "Prices have dropped, thank God for that. Our harvest continues, and after this, we will start harvesting the seedless black pearls planted on 500 decares of land. Vehicles are being loaded and going to the warehouses. I am thankful for this day God has given me."

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We don't have a tonnage problem, but there is hail damage, and that affected us. Prices have dropped, thank God for that. Our harvest continues, and after this, we will start harvesting the seedless black pearls planted on 500 decares of land. Vehicles are being loaded and going to the warehouses. I am thankful for this day God has given me.

Another farmer, Halit Akıncı, shared his experience from a 120-decare plot, expecting an average yield of 6 tons per decare. "We are satisfied with the yield, but there are problems with the crop due to natural disasters and hail," Akıncı stated. "Our tonnage is lower."

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We are satisfied with the yield, but there are problems with the crop due to natural disasters and hail. Our tonnage is lower.