Turkey's Amik Plain wheat harvest begins amid lower yields, farmer concerns

Wheat harvest is underway in Turkey's fertile Amik Plain, a region known for its agricultural output. Farmers in Hatay province have begun harvesting wheat, which has reached sufficient ripeness after a period of heavy rainfall.

Hasan Şimşek, a farmer cultivating 3,500 decares in Kırıkhan district, reported that excessive rain has reduced yields this year. "Last year, despite the drought, the wheat yield was better, and this year, due to excessive rainfall, it has decreased," Şimşek stated. He expects to harvest around 400 kilograms per decare, a drop from the 500 kilograms per decare achieved last year, though he noted the quality of this year's wheat is excellent.

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Last year, despite the drought, the wheat yield was better, and this year, due to excessive rainfall, it has decreased.

The government has set the wheat price at 16.5 Turkish Lira per kilogram, an increase from last year's 12.5 TL. However, farmers like Şimşek and Sercan Köseler expressed disappointment, having hoped for a price closer to 20 TL. They highlighted that rising costs for fuel and fertilizer are straining their finances, making it difficult to profit even with the increased government price. "The input costs are high, so we are a bit upset about the price," Köseler said, expressing hope for a price adjustment.

Despite the challenges, the harvest is progressing, with multiple combine harvesters working in the fields. Farmers are concerned about the economic viability of their operations, especially as fuel costs impact the cost of harvesting. The harvest is expected to continue for another week to ten days.

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The input costs are high, so we are a bit upset about the price.