Heirloom seed harvests begin in Gazipaşa, Turkey

Gazipaşa Municipality in Turkey is actively working to preserve and expand the use of heirloom seeds, with a recent harvest of Karakılçık wheat marking a significant step in the initiative. The project, initiated six years ago on a modest plot, has grown to become a more widespread effort within the district.

The municipality's Agricultural Services Directorate cultivated the Karakılçık wheat on its own land in the Güneyköy neighborhood. The harvested grain is slated for distribution among local producers, aiming to increase cultivation and support local agriculture. This initiative seeks to strengthen agricultural sustainability and pass down indigenous seeds to future generations.

Gazipaşa Mayor Mehmet Ali Yılmaz highlighted the critical role of heirloom seeds in agricultural production. "Preserving heirloom seeds is not just an agricultural activity, but also a responsibility to protect our future," Yılmaz stated. "These seeds form the foundation of production that is in harmony with nature and healthy."