Adana, a southern Turkish city, grows 20% of the watermelons in the country. Producers sell watermelons for 2 to 2.5 Turkish Lira (0.3 to 0.4 Euro) per kilo.
Mahmut Demirtas, the Mayor of Adana and Muhammet Ali Tekin, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, participated in the harvest in the Karatas district's Bahce neighborhood.
Demirtas said that in most of the agricultural fields, producers grow watermelons and added: "Adana produces approximately 4 million tons of watermelon and meets 20 to 25% of the country's demand."
Demirtas stated that Adana watermelon has a special taste and said:
"We think that the productivity is very high. Adana harvests Turkey's first early watermelon variety. We hope it will be a productive season for our farmers. Currently the prices are around 2 to 2,5 Turkish Lira (0,3 to 0,4 Euro) per kilo. Our farmers are content with the prices."
Tekin, the Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, said that the harvest had just started and added: "After the first harvest here, other neighborhoods in Karatas will also start to harvest watermelons. Later on, it will be the Ceyhan area's time to harvest. We will continue to grow watermelons until the end of July."
Source: TRT Haber