A 500% increase in the production of carrots that derive their flavor from the soil and their quality from technology.

In Konya, with a production potential over 80 thousand decares, carrot production has seen a 500% increase in quality, yield, and processing over the past 20 years thanks to advancing technological tools. Carrot producers aim to achieve more efficient production with these technological devices.

47% of Konya’s land area is used as agricultural land. In the Kaşınhanı region of the Meram district, farmers are growing carrots on 80 thousand decares of land. Following staggered planting, the first carrot harvests are ongoing. Carrots are collected from the fields using machines. The carrots are taken to factories in trucks, where they are carefully washed and packaged. Despite the recent rise in regional temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees, work at carrot factories continues uninterrupted. In Turkey, 450 thousand tons of the 650 thousand tons of carrot production come from Konya, and thanks to staggered harvesting, products can be obtained for 11 months of the year.

“We are trying to use technology in the best possible way”

Carrot producer Oğuzhan Özcan stated that the machines used in agriculture with advancing technology have raised the quality of carrot production to high levels, saying, “We are trying to use technology in the best possible way. Air seeders, large equipment tractors, drone spraying systems, and conveyor systems provide many conveniences with these tools. Our goal, God willing, is to switch to a packaging system. With mechanization, these tasks are done more qualitatively and with better calibration. Supermarkets are generally transitioning to smaller packaging. Here, we do large packaging with workers. We cannot have workers do small packaging. Even if we did, costs increase. If a one-kilogram packaging were done by a worker, the kilogram cost could reach 2,500 lira. But with mechanization, we will still use workers. There is already a labor shortage in agriculture. This way, we will do more work, and God willing, our goal is to package products more systematically, properly, sending one kilo to the supermarket for those who want one kilo, and five kilos for those who want five kilos, packaging it properly.”

Özcan stated that the efficiency in production has increased alongside technology, saying, “If we were to give an example from 20 years ago, there is now a 500% difference in the use of technological equipment. We are currently producing and packaging carrots that previously required 150 people with just 10 people. We have transitioned to mechanization in harvesting. We have transitioned to mechanization in loading. We have moved to a dump system in washing tanks on trucks. Of course, workers were a bit more inexperienced in these jobs 20 years ago. Now, they work on a per-package basis. The more they work, the more they earn.”

“Even if we give the carrots away for free here, citizens cannot consume them for less than 15 to 20 lira”

Özcan addressed the differences in carrot prices between producers and consumers, stating, “There is a problem here; especially in the last two years, we producers have made profits until now. For the last two years, our earnings have only been enough for production. The biggest problem here is that even if we give the carrots away for free, citizens in Istanbul cannot consume them for less than 15 to 20 lira. There is a huge gap and excessive costs in between. Transportation costs, vendor costs, supermarket costs, bag costs, box costs, commission fees in the market, and 1 to 2 percent withholding tax costs. Currently, the kilogram price of carrots in our hands is between 4 and 6 lira. Citizens cannot consume them for less than 20 to 25 lira in Istanbul’s markets. Calculate the gap in between.”

“One of the reasons why this carrot is preferred abroad is its color and aroma”

Burak Kırkgöz, the President of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers (ZMO) Konya Branch, stated that carrot production is being carried out on an area of 80 thousand decares in Konya, saying, “Carrot harvesting continues in Kaşınhanı District of Konya. Of course, carrot farming is an 11-month adventure. Our farmers work on carrot agriculture for 11 months. During this time, our carrots are harvested. In the Kaşınhanı region, approximately 500 thousand tons of production occurs on an area of about 80 thousand decares. This meets about 70% of the country’s needs. A large portion of the carrots is also shipped to foreign markets. One of the reasons why this carrot is preferred abroad is its color, aroma, and quality.”