26.08.2026 12:40
In the Çaycuma district of Zonguldak, retired religious official Zeki İnam, at the insistence of his wife, began growing aronia instead of walnuts on his father's idle land. The couple, who expect a harvest of 300 kilograms this year from 2,100 saplings on a 7-decare area, aim to increase production.
In the Çaycuma district of Zonguldak, retired religious official Zeki İnam converted the idle land inherited from his father, which he had planned to use for walnut cultivation, into an aronia garden upon his wife's insistence.
HIS GOAL WAS TO GROW WALNUTS
Zeki İnam, 59, residing in Dereköseler village, served as an imam within the Presidency of Religious Affairs for many years, and later worked as a data preparation and control operator at the Antalya Muftiate.
Shortly before the end of his duty, İnam, who wanted to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, shared with his wife Özlem İnam his wish to retire upon his return and grow walnuts on the idle land inherited from his father in his hometown.
While İnam was performing his Hajj duty, Özlem İnam, researching walnut cultivation to help her husband, learned about the benefits of aronia, called a "super fruit" due to its high antioxidant content, from a television program.
HIS WIFE'S INSISTENCE CHANGED THEIR LIVES
İnam, who retired a while after returning from the Hajj pilgrimage about 3 years ago and returned to his hometown Dereköseler village, learned from his research that his garden was not suitable for walnut cultivation.
Thereupon, turning to aronia at his wife's insistence, İnam planted aronia saplings he procured with his own means on 7 acres of the 10-acre land inherited from his father.
İnam couple, expecting a harvest of 300 kilograms from approximately 2,100 saplings this year, aims to expand the cultivation area and increase production over time.
"PRODUCING AND BEING USEFUL TO HUMANITY FEELS GOOD"
Zeki İnam stated that he wanted to establish a walnut orchard upon retirement, but they learned from their research that his garden was not suitable for this.
Noting that his wife learned about the benefits of aronia during his Hajj duty, İnam said that his desire to grow this fruit developed at his wife's insistence.
İnam, explaining that they wanted to evaluate the land inherited from their father and planted aronia on 7 acres of the 10-acre land, said, "We have approximately 2,100 saplings. We had a 10% loss. We didn't expect this much, but this year, God willing, we expect about 300 kilograms of product."
Stating that bringing idle lands into the economy is valuable, İnam said, "I think we are on the right path with our efforts. Instead of spending time on useless things, everyone should work. Hopefully, people will take our garden as an example. If they implement what they see from us, both we and our country will benefit."
İnam pointed out the importance of doing something good for the country and nation instead of expecting everything from the state, and added that producing something and being useful to humanity makes an individual feel better.
"DEALING WITH SOIL HEALS A PERSON"
Özlem İnam also stated that while researching to help her husband, who was interested in growing walnuts, she learned about the benefits of aronia from a program she watched on television.
Explaining that her husband, upon returning from Hajj, gave up walnut cultivation and turned to aronia due to her insistence, İnam said, "We started wanting to get 2-3 fruits, and we ended up with 2,100 saplings. We grow this fruit naturally. We tried to grow it as much as we could. We worked regardless of summer or winter. Knowing that we will be useful to people by growing a beneficial fruit gives us happiness."
Noting that the idle land has turned into fertile soil, İnam said, "Dealing with soil heals a person; it never deceives you, it gives you what you sow many times over. I recommend everyone to work with soil."