Çumra melon, one of the major sources of income for the Çumra district of Konya and registered with a geographical indication, is also being exported to global markets.
Çumra melon, one of the major sources of income for the Çumra district of Konya and registered with a geographical indication, is also being exported to global markets.
The cultivation of Çumra melon, known for its unique taste, color, and aroma, is increasing each year. Planting begins at the end of April, and harvesting starts in mid-August. Farmers take meticulous care of the melons, treating them as if they were their children. During the harvest, melons are first cut from the vine and then collected individually by hand from the fields. Afterward, the melons are shipped not only across Turkey but also to international markets.
Farmer Ramazan Akyol, who grows melons in the Çumra region, said, “We start planting melons towards the end of April. We use mulch, a plastic covering in our region, and we apply drip irrigation. We plant the melons 70 centimeters apart. About a week to ten days after planting, we start filling the areas we call 'throats,' which prevents air from getting in and stops weeds from growing, making it more beneficial. With God's permission, the period between planting and harvest is 75 days. We monitor irrigation weekly, adjusting according to the crop’s condition. We care for the melons as if they were young children. We visit the fields daily, ensuring proper measurement of water, chemicals, and fertilizers according to the crop’s needs. We don’t give more or less than required; everything is provided equally.”
Akyol noted that the price of melons at the field is 7 TL, and on the market, it ranges from 10 to 13 TL. He added, “We do not use any unnecessary products; only essential treatments like mildew and fungus control are applied. The taste of our melons comes from the soil of this plain and region. Customers find us, not the other way around. Our melons are excellent, high-quality, and sweet, so people come from all over Turkey and even from abroad, traveling long distances just to taste them. They cannot find such taste, size, and quality anywhere else. This is why they choose us, and both we and they benefit. Prices have remained the same as last year. We are grateful for the yield and quality of the soil. Currently, the price at the field is 7 TL, and at the stalls, it ranges from 10 to 13 TL. The producer, intermediary, and consumers all benefit.”
Food engineer Hüseyin Altındaş from Mersin’s Silifke district explained that they dry melons for export. “In our facility, we use freeze-drying technology to remove all moisture from products. We primarily work with fruits and vegetables due to the region's focus. We plan our work according to the fruit and vegetable conditions in the region. Our encounter with this melon was somewhat coincidental during a business trip. We came here after seeing the melons and discovered that the soil, region, and climate of this place are significantly better. This is important to us because we dry the products, and the higher the sweetness and aroma, the more crucial it becomes for the end consumer. The melons you see are sent not only within our country but also to places like America and Germany.”