Muğla yields first mastic harvest after 11 years

After 11 years of patient cultivation, farmers in Turkey's Muğla province are finally harvesting mastic from trees planted under a government project. The initiative, launched in 2015, aims to revive and expand mastic production, a valuable crop used in food, cosmetics, and industry.

The slow-growing mastic trees require a long maturation period, but the first harvests from groves in Kavaklıdere and Yatağan are now yielding an average of 250 grams to 1 kilogram per tree. This initial success marks a significant milestone for the "Medicinal Aromatic and Dye Plants Development Project" (TAB Projesi), which seeks to increase domestic supply and reduce Turkey's reliance on imports.

Muğla's agricultural authorities are collaborating with research institutions and development agencies to map the province's mastic resources and analyze sample quality. The goal is to create a roadmap for expanding cultivation and making Muğla a leading mastic producer in Turkey. The findings will be compiled into a book for growers and industry stakeholders.