10.04.2026 01:40
With the temperatures in the Demirci district of Manisa dropping to minus 3 degrees, almond producers have started to keep a "frost watch" in their orchards to protect their crops. Farmers are trying to protect their trees from the risk of frost by burning straw bales and almond shells using the smoking method.
In the Demirci district of Manisa, producers are working intensively to prevent damage to almond orchards located especially in areas above 900 meters and close to 1000 meters during the flowering and budding period of the trees.
THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE THEIR PRODUCTS WITH "SMOKY PROTECTION" THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT
According to meteorological data, farmers start smoke generation activities in their orchards from the evening hours against the cold wave expected to last until April 11. These activities, which continue throughout the night, last until the first light of morning.
Faruk Şenyurt, the District Director of Agriculture and Forestry in Demirci, visited the orchards at night to support the producers fighting against frost. Şenyurt, who examined the works on-site, provided technical support to the producers and informed them about the necessary precautions.
INTENSE STRUGGLE FOR 5 THOUSAND ALMOND TREES
Intense efforts are also being made at the Karaoklar Ecological Life Farm, which has 5 thousand almond trees on an area of 250 decares in the Oyukarkası locality.
In the region where the temperature drops to minus 3 degrees at night, producers are trying to prevent the buds from freezing by maintaining the temperature inside the orchard around zero degrees with the dense smoke produced from the materials they burn.
Farm manager İsmail Hakkı Sular stated that they could not harvest any products last year due to frost, saying, "We have 5000 almond trees. This year we have increased our precautions. The easiest method is smoke generation. We burn almond shells, which are our own product, because they provide smoke for a longer time. We have insured ourselves, but we are not giving up the fight."
"WE TOOK EARLY WARNINGS INTO ACCOUNT"
Faruk Şenyurt, the District Director of Agriculture and Forestry in Demirci, recalled the frost event that occurred last year, stating that there are similar risks this year as well. Şenyurt said, "Our ministry provided support to farmers last year. This year, according to meteorological data, there is a risk of frost. We have warned our producers in advance and are monitoring the activities in the field. There are 14 thousand decares of almond production area in our district. There are approximately 200 thousand fruit-bearing almond trees and 400 thousand almond trees in the development stage. We expect a yield of 500 tons this season."
"TEMPERATURE IS EXPECTED TO DROP TO MINUS 3 DEGREES"
Muharrem Çaka, an agricultural engineer at Karaoklar Ecological Life Farm, stated that they took precautions by considering early warning systems, saying, "The temperature is expected to drop to minus 3 degrees over the next two nights. We are trying to protect our almonds by providing an increase of about 2 degrees in temperature in our orchard through the smoke generation method."
In Demirci, where the risk of frost continues, farmers continue to keep watch throughout the night to protect their products.