Mehmet Çelik (54), a farmer in Mardin’s Savur district, turned to lavender instead of barley, wheat, lentil and chickpea bread for his 72-acre field left by his grandfather. Çelik stated that he will also do beekeeping in the field and that lavender honey, which is sold up to 300 TL per kilo, is very valuable and said, “We will plant thyme in some part of the field. I believe that thyme and lavender honey will come to the fore among the most valuable products of the region. ”
Şehmus Edis
Mehmet Çelik, who is a farmer in the rural İçören neighborhood of Mardin’s Savur district, said GAP Administration, Within the scope of the project of the Forestry Operation Directorate and the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, he planted first peanuts and then lavender instead of barley, wheat, lentil and chickpeas, which have been ongoing for years, on his 72-decare field left by his grandfather. Stating that he will also place beehives in the lavender garden, Çelik will earn income from lavender honey sold for 300 TL per kilo. Stating that he aims to set an example for the local farmers by utilizing his land with a different product, Çelik said, “It is necessary to go beyond the methods and products of our grandfather and to modern agriculture. More profit can be achieved with new products in a narrow space. Lavender and other endemic plants yield more. We planted peanuts, olives and almonds along with lavender. “We created an exemplary field for the farmers in our neighborhood,” he said.
“WE WILL OPEN THE FIELD FOR PHOTOGRAPHY TOURISM”
Noting that he planted lavender on 42 acres of his field, Mehmet Çelik said, “We will also buy 40 hives of bees. Lavender’s honey is very famous. An important honey and an important nutrient. We will plant some thyme in part of the field. I believe that thyme and lavender honey will stand out among the most valuable products of the region. In the meantime, a completely beautiful project has been prepared. The drip irrigation system will be installed. Today we brought our lavender together with the soil. I hope we will start selling lavender next autumn and then we will open this place to photography tourism with bride and groom shoots ”.
Agriculture and Forestry Provincial Director Menduh Dinler, who examined the lavender planting work on site, said, “We implemented this project with the GAP. It was a project of 70 decares. Our aim was to bring the idle lands to agriculture. While implementing this project, we wanted to show our farmers that 3 products will be made together. Peanuts will start to yield after 10 years. With the lavender among them, it was aimed that the farmer could provide his own food and earn money. Of course, with these lavenders, money will be earned from beekeeping and honey. ”
