In Adana, 100 thousand tons of tomatoes are expected to be harvested this year. Tomatoes, which are priced at 5-6 liras in the field, are sold 3-4 times more in markets and markets in metropolitan cities.
Harvest continues in the field tomatoes cultivated on approximately 25 thousand decares of land in the city. While the average price of tomatoes in the field is 5-6 liras per kilogram, the harvested products are sent to all four corners of Turkey and abroad.
Tomatoes burned
This year, due to the extreme heat in the first days of June, half of the tomatoes were burned in the field, while a yield of 100 thousand tons is expected this year. In the markets and bazaars of metropolitan cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, the price of tomatoes is up to 25 liras.
“Not what we hoped for”
Speaking to İhlas News Agency during the harvest, Mehmet Akın Doğan, President of the Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture, stated that farmers could not find what they hoped for from tomatoes this year due to the hot weather and said, “Tomato harvest started early this year due to the very hot weather. The 45-degree heat between June 2 and 7 burned at least 60 percent of the tomatoes. When the tomatoes in other provinces come out at the same time, the price in the field is now sold below 6 liras. Our farmers cannot make money from tomatoes.”
“Half of the tomato is a loss”
Stating that Adana should be included in the scope of the disaster area, President Doğan said, “We have asked for the Adana region to be included in the scope of the disaster because tomatoes and other crops were also burnt this year. There is tomato cultivation in 25 thousand decares of land in Adana this year. Tomato harvest used to start in May every year and continue until the first week of July. Since most of the tomatoes were burnt, we were expecting prices to rise, but now prices are going for 5-6 liras. It costs up to 25 thousand for 1 acre. Our farmer could only earn half of this cost. The other half is a total loss. The harvest will end early this year because the tomatoes burned.”
