05.11.2026 10:50
Orange harvest has begun in Adana, which has an important place in Turkey's citrus production. While a harvest of 670 thousand tons is targeted this year, despite the high yield, producers have been left in a difficult situation by falling prices. The price of oranges, which were sold in the orchard for 27-32 lira per kilogram last year, has dropped to as low as 5-7 lira this year. Producers, stating that exports have been disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war, called for support.
Harvest has begun on early Navelina and Fukumoto variety oranges in Adana, which meets more than 65 percent of Turkey's citrus need.
For the oranges produced on 160 thousand decares of land in Adana, workers entered the orchards in the early morning hours. The oranges collected with great effort were sent to the Adana wholesale market to be offered for sale domestically.
THE WAR ALSO AFFECTED ORANGES
Due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the fact that ship traffic in the Black Sea is not open affected oranges as well as lemons and mandarins. Although the yield was abundant this year, prices fell when the products were exported to the Russian and Ukrainian markets only in small quantities by trucks. Oranges that found buyers at between 27 and 32 lira per kilogram in the orchard last year are being sold for 5-7 lira this year.
An average yield of 4 tons per decare is obtained from oranges, and a harvest of 670 thousand tons is also targeted across the city this year.
"THE SHIPS THAT DEPART ARE NOT ENOUGH"
Speaking to the İHA reporter during the harvest, Head of the Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture Mehmet Akın Doğan stated that the harvest was high and said, "This year the harvest is high, but it cannot be exported abroad due to the Russia-Ukraine war. For that reason, prices are very low. Last year the kilogram price in the orchard was 27-32 lira, but right now it is 5-7 lira. Ships go from Mersin once or twice a week, and likewise from Samsun, to Russia and Ukraine, but that is not enough."
"LAST YEAR WAS A YEAR OF SCARCITY, THIS YEAR IS A YEAR OF ABUNDANCE"
President Doğan said that he wanted support from the Support and Price Stability Fund (DFİF) and freight support, and said, "If support of 5 lira per kilogram were given to farmers whose product remains on the tree, this is not a lot of money, but it would relieve our farmers. Because there was frost last year, it was a year of scarcity; this year is a year of abundance. The yield is also high in lemons and mandarins, but because they cannot be exported either, they do not bring in much money."
"WE ARE HARVESTING THE FRUIT TO GET A YIELD NEXT YEAR"
Orange producer Vedat Yıldız said, "We have oranges on 240 decares of land. We get a yield of between 150-200 kilograms per tree. Right now the kilogram price is 5 lira and the harvest continues. We are harvesting the fruit to get a yield next year. Leaving them on the tree is not an option. The merchant buys the product for 5-6 lira, but they are not showing much interest this year because ship traffic is closed."