17.06.2026 12:02
The harvest of salep, which is forbidden to be collected from nature, continues in Kastamonu. The price of dried salep, cultivated on a 25-decare area with support from the Kastamonu Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, reaches up to 13 thousand lira per kilogram.
The harvest of field-grown salep, which is banned from being collected from nature, has begun in Kastamonu. In the 25-decare salep gardens supported by the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, dried product finds buyers at up to 13 thousand lira per kilogram.
Salep, classified among medicinal and aromatic plants, is an endemic species whose collection from nature is banned. Its harvest season is ongoing in Kastamonu. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry supports producers to promote the cultivation of salep, which is particularly used in the pharmaceutical industry, adhesives, and ice cream production. Within the scope of the project, "Cultivate Salep in the Field, Not Collect from Nature," launched by the Ministry in 2023, salep fields were established under the supervision of the Kastamonu Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. This year, 47 producers planted salep on a total area of 25 decares across the province. The harvest of salep, individually planted by hand, has begun. Fresh salep finds buyers at between 2 thousand and 3 thousand lira per kilogram, while the price of dried salep reaches up to 13 thousand lira per kilogram.
“OUR GOAL IS BOTH TO EXPAND OUR AREA AND TO SPREAD SALEP CULTIVATION” Agricultural engineer Ferdi Doğdu, who cultivates salep in the Kayı village of the central district, said, “Our 2026 salep harvest has begun. We had planned to start a bit earlier, but rains prevented it. With the rains easing, we started our harvest. It is going well so far. The yield is exceeding our expectations. We were able to increase our yield slightly above what we anticipated. This year, we have nearly one decare of land. We will harvest almost the entire area, but due to a lack of skilled labor, it will take a bit longer than planned. We estimate it will take about a month. We are also happy to successfully cultivate salep, which naturally grows in Kastamonu, in a productive way. Our goal is both to expand our area and to spread salep cultivation in Kastamonu. We are making great efforts to share both our knowledge and experience. Our salep production is not yet at the desired level. Many people are curious, but those interested in cultivation may stay away due to its labor-intensive nature. It is a job that truly requires time, effort, and dedication.”
“WITH THE INCREASE IN RAINFALL THIS YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE YIELD” Doğdu, noting that they faced severe rainfall shortages for two years, stated, “Kastamonu’s normal rainy season continues until the solstice, i.e., June 21, and we experienced difficulties due to this in the previous two years. However, with increased rainfall this year, I believe we have compensated for last year's deficiencies and increased yield. We agree that the continuation of rainfall at normal levels has positively affected yield. Salep is a plant that generally does not like waterlogging. As a preventive measure, we raise the beds to control flooding. But we can also say that salep is a plant that truly loves water. It is a plant that can grow with water.”
“WE EXPECT AROUND 400 KILOGRAMS OF SALEP TUBERS FROM ONE DECARE OF LAND” Emphasizing their goal to increase production, Doğdu said, “We have about 200-250 kilograms of product from our one decare of land. Our goal is to first spread it more widely and then increase productivity two to three times. We plan and expect to have nearly 400 kilograms of tubers from one decare. We will continue to expand our area by using about 250 kilograms of that as seed stock.”
“DRIED AND GROUND PRODUCT FINDS BUYERS AT UP TO 13 THOUSAND LIRA” Drawing attention to the ban on collecting salep from nature, Doğdu stated, “This year, we can say that dried and ground product finds buyers at up to 13 thousand lira. The fine for collecting from nature is around 700 thousand lira, and it is strictly prohibited. We carry out our production under state supervision and control, with invoiced products.”