Blueberry, known as ‘blue berry’ in the region, which was produced in the Black Sea region in order to generate additional income for tea and hazelnut producers, gave positive results. Work is being carried out to increase the cultivation areas of the product. Ilyas Kumbasar, who produces blueberries on 1 decare of land in Trabzon, started to earn approximately ₺100 thousand per year.
Trial productions of blueberries, which are called ‘likarba’ in Trabzon, ‘likapa’ in Rize, and ‘blue berry’ in Giresun, in order to generate additional income for tea and hazelnut producers in the region, yielded positive results. A study is carried out to increase the cultivation areas of the fruit, which bears fruit once a year and is beneficial for human health with its antioxidant properties.
The fruit, harvested in mid-June, started to be preferred because of its high yield and easy harvesting. Ilyas Kumbasar, who produces blueberries on 1 decare of land in Yagmurlu village of Koprubasi district of Trabzon, started to earn approximately ₺100 thousand per year.
‘TOO MUCH PROFIT’
Ilyas Kumbasar said that a single tree yields about 10 kilograms of fruit, “The weight of the tree finds buyers from the lowest ₺25 in the market, it goes up to ₺50. It is even sold for ₺80 in the markets. The east of the Black Sea is more suitable for this. It is used for many purposes as marmalade, jam, dried and fresh fruit. In some countries, it is used in many areas such as nearly 40 kinds of food, beverage, ice cream, vinegar and wine. In fact, fruits such as aronia and elderberry, which are different types, started to enter our country. These are a species used in both the fruit and pharmaceutical industries.”
Explaining that the fruit known as ‘likarba’ in Trabzon is used in the pharmaceutical industry, the demand is high and it provides high profits, Kumbasar said, “If we cultivate this fruit, it can provide great foreign currency gain to our country. Growing likarba (blueberry) is not difficult. I do maintenance 1-2 times a year, it takes 1 month to collect. Since the money is good, it does not tire you to collect it. I started as a small business at first, but now I am expanding the business, it earns a lot. 1 acre of garden has an average income of ₺100 thousand per year.”
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz