Tropical fruit producers within the Alanya district of Antalya are dealing with an uphill battle as sweltering temperatures threaten their harvest. The area, identified for its ample manufacturing of tropical fruits akin to bananas, avocados, loquats, mangoes, papayas and dragon fruit, has been grappling with air temperatures hovering above seasonal norms, posing a severe threat to the crops.
Farmers within the district are using modern strategies to protect their greenhouses and gardens from the scorching warmth. One such methodology entails rising the irrigation frequency to hydrate the crops adequately. Additionally, they’re using “shade dust” and “top cover” on greenhouses to mitigate the influence of maximum climate circumstances. Furthermore, dietary supplements like clay and calcium are getting used to bolster the resilience of the crops.
Tahir Göktepe, the president of the Alanya Chamber of Agriculture, highlighted that the area is experiencing what has been termed the “heat of the century,” resulting in a drastic drop in humidity ranges to 10%-15%. This unfavorable situation takes a toll on tropical fruit greenhouses and gardens, jeopardizing the fruit manufacturing course of.
The antagonistic results of the warmth are notably noticeable in open areas the place tropical fruits are grown. Göktepe emphasised that the recent climate considerably impairs manufacturing, particularly in the course of the avocado fruiting season. He expressed concern over the extent of the harm, with some avocado orchards experiencing a lack of as much as 50% of their crops as fruits prematurely fall from the bushes.
In response to the disaster, the Alanya Chamber of Agriculture has issued warnings to producers, encouraging the implementation of preventive measures. Göktepe emphasised the significance of frequent watering: “Watering the crops every two days, for avocados grown in open areas is essential. In addition, applying clay can help reduce leaf and fruit burning while preventing fruit drop. Moreover, the regular application of calcium can enhance the quality of the produce.”
Göktepe stated: “If we adopt these measures, we can help salvage up to 30% of the harvest. We also should maintain high humidity levels in greenhouses by adopting a combination of drip and sprinkler irrigation methods to counter the impact of heat.” The software of “shadow dust,” a course of involving the spraying of liquid lime on the outside nylon of greenhouses, can also be instrumental in decreasing the penetration of daylight into the greenhouses’ inside.
Bilal Öztürk, a tropical fruit producer, shared his struggles with the intense climate, saying: “The hottest summer in recent years had negatively affected my avocado orchard. It’s painful to witness my fruits turn black and fall off prematurely, disrupting the ripening process. To combat this, I resorted to leaf protection drugs and increased watering to mitigate the effects.”
Another producer, Arif Akay, revealed that measures like establishing cooling fountains for dry climate and utilizing “shade dust” on greenhouse nylon had grow to be important to safeguard their crops. He emphasised the significance of shading nets and using cooling methods like sprinklers and drip irrigation to keep up a decrease temperature contained in the greenhouse.
The area’s tropical fruit manufacturing is substantial, with 12,000 decares of bananas, 2,000 decares of mangos, 3,000 decares of dragon fruit and 1,500 decares of papayas produced underneath cowl within the Alanya district.
Despite the challenges posed by the intense warmth, producers stay decided to guard their livelihoods and contribute to the nation’s financial system. They are working tirelessly to make use of modern strategies and are receiving assist from the Alanya Chamber of Agriculture to beat the influence of the scorching temperatures.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
