Muş, one of Turkey’s significant agricultural production centers, has seen effective rainfall this year, raising yield expectations for planted agricultural products.
Prof. Dr. Yaşar Karadağ, Vice Rector of Muş Alparslan University and Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, stated to AA correspondent that Muş is home to the third-largest plain in Turkey.
Karadağ mentioned that they work on legumes for food, feed, fodder, cereals, industrial, medical, and aromatic plants, adding that wheat is cultivated on 140 thousand hectares, barley on 34 thousand hectares, sugar beet on 12 thousand hectares, silage corn on 3 thousand hectares, and forage crops on 57 thousand hectares in the city.
Karadağ emphasized the vital importance of recent rainfall for plant production, saying:
“We had magnificent rainfall in March and April. There is no drought in Muş right now. Rainfall is significant because it greatly affects the growth of plants during the development period. The duration and quality of rainfall are also important. If continuous heavy rain occurs, the soil swells, and swollen soil leads to surface runoff, which causes erosion. Due to the slow, light, and continuous rainfall in March and April in Muş, we did not encounter such a situation in our soils.”
“We anticipate a significant increase in yield”
Karadağ stated that rainfall is essential for seed germination and development in crops such as grains, barley, wheat, rye, alfalfa, and clover, saying, “There was a significant drought last year. This year, due to the slow, regular, and continuous rainfall, especially in cereal crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and rye, as well as forage and grass production, we anticipate a significant increase in yield. I believe that the recent rainfall will greatly benefit our farmers. In the Muş region, rainfall acted as a remedy for us. In a facility where livestock is raised, more than 70% of the expenses consist of feed costs. Therefore, the occurrence of regular rainfall in recent times will also contribute to an increase in forage yield.”
“We expect a good yield this year”
Engin Çoban, a farmer from Alazlı village, stated that he planted wheat on 130 acres of land in the village.
Çoban, who said he sprayed pesticides in the field with a tractor, stated, “Due to the rainfall, our wheat looks good in terms of yield. We are hopeful for this season. The height of the wheat is currently very ideal. We believe that we will have a good yield this year. In addition, I will plant sugar beets on 80 acres of land. We continue the farming profession inherited from our grandfather.”
Another farmer, Cuma Öztürk, stated that he planted wheat on 50 acres of land with his three brothers, mentioning that due to the effect of rainfall, the wheat plant has developed better this year compared to previous years.
source: aa.com.tr/ prepared by Melisa Beğiç