An increase of over 10 thousand tons is expected in the geographical indication registered peanuts, whose cultivation area has expanded and harvesting has started in Osmaniye, compared to last year.
In Osmaniye, where an average of 40% of the peanut production and 98% of the processing in the country takes place, the harvest of the first registered peanut products has started.
Peanuts are pulled out of the soil by a tractor, left in the field for 2-3 days, and then left to dry in large, sunny areas.
Osmaniye Commodity Exchange Secretary General Musa Ilker Cenet told the AA correspondent that peanuts are one of the main products that contribute to the agricultural economy in Osmaniye.
Stating that more than 10 thousand people found employment opportunities in the collection, processing and transportation of the product, Cenet said, “In 2022, 186 thousand 340 tons of peanut harvest was obtained from 457 thousand decares of cultivated area in Turkiye. We achieved a yield of 500 kilograms per decare. This year, while the production area will increase to 520 thousand decares, we expect the production to increase to 210 thousand tons. While the production area in our city increases from 11 thousand 480 decares to 18 thousand decares, we expect the production from 48 thousand 330 tons to reach a level of 60 thousand tons.”
Cenet underlined that peanuts are also an exported product and said, “While exports were around 5-6 thousand tons between 2004 and 2014, it increased to 20 thousand tons in 2022. Most of this is made from our city.”
Price per kilogram is ₺50-₺55
Kadirli Chamber of Agriculture President Hanifi Ispir also stated that the peanut harvest started well.
Stating that peanut purchasing prices are at the level of ₺50-₺55 per kilogram and that this pleases the producers, İspir expressed that they hope the prices will not decrease.
Peanut producer Veli Kastal stated that they received around 500 kilograms of product per decare this season and said, “Last year our yield was low. This year the yield is good. We have about 250 decares of peanuts. In terms of price, the first harvest in Cukurova is made on the Karatas, Tuzla side. There, it started at ₺75 per kilogram. Today, it dropped to ₺55. Last year it was between ₺25-₺30. If the price does not decrease, we can make a profit this way. I hope it will not fall below this level.”
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz