Mulberry Production Economy in District of Adiyaman

Abstract

The mulberry, which is cultivated generally in mild and subtropical regions, is cultivated in our country extensively. However, this potential cannot be assessed enough. Cultivation of mulberry has started to earn importance in Adıyaman in recent years. Mulberry has a great market potential thanks to its nutritive features of processed products and the fresh consumption of it. Dozens of products such as molasses, jams, fruit pulp, mulberry butter, dried mulberry, fruit ice cream, walnut sausage, vinegar, fruit juice concentrate, alcohol are made from its fruit. In this study, the general economic features of mulberry cultivation in Adıyaman is tried to be put forth. For this purpose, the statistics that are published by Turkish Statistical Institute and other data sources have been taken as references. In the study, the initial evaluation subjects were carried out about the cultivation areas, the number of the trees, and the amount of production and the production amount according to districts in Turkey. After that, the data were examined so as to put forth the economical features of mulberry cultivation in Adıyaman. According to TSI data of the year 2005, the area of collective fruits produced as a commercial enterprise in the line of industry demands of mulberry is 12000 decare area and the number of products is 55000 tons from 2120000 efficient trees. In 2010, the figures raised above 75000 tons and it was 69334 tons in 2015. Average yield per tree varies from 25 to 30 kg within the examined period. Mulberry production in Adıyaman is not very common; however, the fruit is presented to the market as fresh for a short time and in order to apprise the producers redundant. Producers didn’t use to harvest the fruit as it was thought to be worthless in previous years. But today, it has become one of the most important income sources. The mulberry production area in Adıyaman has increased twenty times in the last decade. It is remarkable to see that the increase in the production areas in last few years. Thanks to local people’s realizing the support of the mulberry for their economies and establishing new production areas have a great effect on this increase. Total tree number and a good bearer numbers have been doubled. While Adıyaman’s mulberry production was 661 tons in 2005, it reached 1629 tons in 2015. The production increased about 2.5 times within this period. Average yield per tree varies from 25 to 30 kg. When the potential that Adıyaman has in mulberry production is appraised, it will contribute local economy in coming years. Mulberry will be an important fruit for the development of the region as it creates added value and employment increase.