In Alanya, protection for avocados with barbed wire and shepherd dogs.

With the beginning of avocado harvest in the Alanya district of Antalya, the increase in avocado thefts throughout the district has driven producers to desperation. Producers, whose nights are disturbed, are guarding their lands surrounded by barbed wire with dogs.

Avocado theft in the Yeniköy neighborhood of Alanya district has become a nightmare for the residents. Neighborhood residents, who have taken precautions on their own against the thefts, are waiting for authorities to implement deterrent measures to prevent theft. Producers, who had to close their gardens with wire fences against avocado thieves in Yeniköy, stated that the precautions they took were insufficient and that they wanted to set up different trapping mechanisms but refrained from doing so due to concerns that it might endanger human life. The ease and portability of stealing avocado fruit enable thieves to operate more easily. Producers, worried about thieves stealing avocado fruits, had to harvest their fruits before they were ripe. They say that unripe avocados are sold to wholesalers for half the price and that they seek support from the Chamber of Agriculture and the Avocado Producers Association on this issue.

Veysel Öztürk, expressing that half of his 80 avocado trees were stolen by thieves in one night, said, “This is my ancestral land; I planted 70-80 avocado trees by my own efforts. Last night, one or more people entered here and took half of the products.” Öztürk also mentioned the great difficulties faced in growing avocados, stating, “Avocados need water, fertilizer, weeding, and the labor of workers who come on a daily wage. Even if you don’t respect anything, you should respect the labor.” Veysel Öztürk noted that such thefts are not only happening in Yeniköy but also in Mahmutlar, Kargıcak, and Anamur, emphasizing that humanity should not behave this way and stated he would take necessary precautions against theft.

On the other hand, Ahmet Satış, a producer in the same neighborhood, said that due to thefts in neighbors’ gardens, he collects unripe avocados and sells them for half price. Mehmet Kaplan, an avocado producer, mentioned that prices are low for producers but high in markets, stating, “Avocado costs 15 lira for producers, while it is 60 lira in markets. This is a huge injustice and unfairness. There is a Chamber of Agriculture President in every district; I want him to follow this situation.”

Producers on night watch
The rise in avocado thefts in Alanya has disturbed the sleep of producers at night. Orhan Metin, who stated that there are 2,500 avocado trees in Özvadi neighborhood, said, “We started avocado production, and for this, we took precautions with our cameras, boundary walls, and razor wire. Almost every day, thefts occur, and when caught, there are not many penalties. They enter through the front door and exit through the back door; that’s why we took such precautions with our surrounding walls, fences, razor wires, and camera systems, these are just a few of our deterrent measures.” Producers are trying to protect their fruits by keeping watch day and night to prevent theft.

On the other hand, despite the high cost, having a 7-meter high wall built by the producer also intimidates potential thieves.

Night patrol with dogs
Ramazan Ulan, who patrols his avocado orchard at night with a dog against thieves, said, “At night, due to avocado theft, we patrol day and night; we have started to walk with dogs in the evening.”

Prices will recover shortly.
Speaking about avocado prices, Orhan Metin said, “The entry prices were actually very good, starting at around 37-80 or even 40 lira, but due to the warm weather and the prolonged summer heat, the fruits began to ripen on the trees, and due to some delays, they started to fall. Since harvesting had to be done, prices dropped a bit, but they will recover shortly.” It can be said that the only concern of avocado growers is to prevent theft and for falling prices to rise again.