Retired imam turns fallow land into lucrative aronia farm

In Dereköseler village, 59-year-old Zeki İnam, a retired imam, has cultivated a new life by transforming his inherited, unused land into a thriving aronia farm. What began as a retirement dream of a walnut orchard took an unexpected turn, leading to a successful venture in cultivating the antioxidant-rich "superfruit."

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We have about 2,100 saplings. We had about 10% loss, we didn't expect this much, but God willing, we expect about 300 kilograms of product this year.

İnam, who served as an imam for many years before retiring from the Antalya Muftiate, initially planned to establish a walnut orchard on his family's 10-decare plot. However, upon returning from his Hajj pilgrimage, he discovered the land was not suitable for walnuts. His wife, Özlem İnam, had been researching aronia cultivation while he was away, inspired by a television program highlighting its high antioxidant content.

Following his wife's persistent suggestion, İnam decided to pivot to aronia. He planted 2,100 aronia saplings on 7 decares of the land. This year, the couple anticipates a harvest of approximately 300 kilograms from these saplings, with plans to expand their planting area and increase production in the future.

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I believe we are on the right track with the work we are doing. Instead of wasting time on useless things, everyone needs to work. I hope people will take our garden as an example. If they apply what they see from us, both we and our country will benefit.

"We want to evaluate the land left by our fathers," İnam stated, expressing his satisfaction with their decision. "We have about 2,100 saplings. We had about 10% loss, we didn't expect this much, but God willing, we expect about 300 kilograms of product this year." He emphasized the value of bringing unused land into the economy, adding, "I believe we are on the right track with the work we are doing. Instead of wasting time on useless things, everyone needs to work. I hope people will take our garden as an example. If they apply what they see from us, both we and our country will benefit."

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While researching to help my husband, who was interested in growing walnuts, I learned about the benefits of aronia from a program I watched on television.

Özlem İnam shared her role in the transition, explaining, "While researching to help my husband, who was interested in growing walnuts, I learned about the benefits of aronia from a program I watched on television." She added that their initial modest goal of harvesting just a few fruits has now grown into a significant operation. "We aimed to get 2-3 fruits, and now we have 2,100 saplings," she said. "We grow this fruit naturally. We tried to grow it as much as we could. We worked day and night. Growing a beneficial fruit for people..." she trailed off, highlighting the rewarding nature of their endeavor.

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We aimed to get 2-3 fruits, and now we have 2,100 saplings. We grow this fruit naturally. We tried to grow it as much as we could. We worked day and night. Growing a beneficial fruit for people...