Harvest underway at the foot of Mount Nemrut, where tomatoes cover 600 decares

Tomato harvesting is continuing across roughly 600 decares at the foot of Mount Nemrut in Tatvan, Bitlis.

Bitlis Governor Ahmet Karakaya visited producer Behçet Bilici’s field to inspect the harvest and speak with agricultural workers. The provincial agriculture and forestry director, Ramazan Çolak, and Bilici briefed him on production and harvesting. Karakaya said agriculture and livestock farming have strategic importance.

Cevdet Erdal, who travels from Kahta in Adıyaman to Tatvan to buy tomatoes, said he has sourced produce from the area for seven years. “The tomatoes here are high quality,” he said. Erdal said he sells them at a vegetable market, while other tomatoes are processed into canned products and tomato paste or sold to supermarkets. He transports 10 tons on each trip and said purchases could increase if the season lasts longer.

“

The tomatoes here are high quality. We sell the tomatoes we take to the vegetable market. These tomatoes are used to produce canned goods and tomato paste, and they are also sold to supermarkets. I take 10 tons of tomatoes each time. If the season lasts longer, we will take more.