Harvest bustle in district named after its fruit: from zero yield to 3,000 tons

Mulberry harvests have commenced in Turkey's Tut district, a region renowned for its fruit and aptly named after the mulberry.

This year's harvest, however, started two weeks later than usual. Late spring rains, which persisted into the final month of spring, delayed the process. This delay follows a challenging year in 2023, when agricultural frost significantly impacted the yield, bringing it to almost zero.

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We expect a productive and fruitful production season, depending on the rains and seasonal effects. Also, this year, with the co-financing of the İpekyolu Development Agency of our Ministry of Industry, we have brought a mulberry sorting and packaging facility to our district. We will open it very soon. Our work will continue with a production model aimed at increasing product quality and price, in a way that will support the economic development of our farmers by increasing both the market share and economic value of the produced mulberries.

Farmers are optimistic this season, anticipating a substantial increase in production. The expectation is for over 3,000 tons of fresh mulberries and more than 700 tons of dried mulberries. This positive outlook is attributed to ample rainfall this year. Mulberry trees are cultivated across approximately 3,000 decares in the district, and nets have been laid out to catch the falling fruit during the harvest.

Following the harvest, the mulberries are processed using traditional methods. They are pressed to extract their juice, which is then boiled in large cauldrons. The resulting mixture is left to sit in the open air for three days and nights to produce pekmez, a type of molasses.

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This year, due to the abundant rainfall, we expect significant increases in our mulberry yields, as with every product. Mulberry production is carried out in 74 provinces in Turkey over an area of approximately 21,000 decares, with an annual yield reaching up to 70,000 tons. Adıyaman's Tut district is a significant mulberry production center in this regard, with an approximate annual yield of 3,000 tons from its 3,000-decare cultivation area.

Local officials, including Tut District Governor Celal Güngör and Mayor Ercan Öncebe, participated in the initial harvest alongside agricultural officials and students. Governor Güngör expressed confidence in a "productive and fruitful production season." He also highlighted the upcoming inauguration of a new mulberry sorting and packaging facility, funded by the İpekyolu Development Agency. This facility aims to enhance the market value and economic return for farmers.

Adıyaman Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Abdulkadir Akkan, confirmed the expectation of significant increases in mulberry yields, attributing it to favorable weather conditions. He noted that while mulberry production occurs in 74 provinces across Turkey, Tut district stands out as a major hub, contributing around 3,000 tons annually from its 3,000-decare cultivation area.

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Last year, we couldn't get any yield due to frost. Thank God, but this year, due to the abundant rainfall, the yield is very good.