In Antalya’s Gazipasa district, mango production started 7 years ago and the number of seed grown mango trees in the area has now increased to 5,000.
The Mango Fruit and Arboriculture company’s partner, Mustafa Ezici, explained that they started an R&D project on mango cultivation together with his partner Veli Celik 7 years ago. He said that they bought the mango seeds from an importer and succeeded in sapling production and were now happy with their current mango sapling’s production and their sales.
5,000 Mango trees
Ezici announced that in Gazipasa the current number of mango trees has reached 5k. Stating that the product is new to the farmers and that they expect the demand for mangoes to grow, Ezici said: “People first want to see whether it is profitable or not before they plant it. Mangoes are five times more profitable than bananas. Today, mangoes cost 30 to 40 Turkish Lira (4,7 to 6,3 Euro) in the supermarkets. A ripe mango of 300 grams cost 16 Turkish Lira (2,5 Euro).”
Europe and Russia are potential markets
Ezici pointed out that Europe imports 600k tons of mangoes and explained: “These are collected before they are ripe. They travel for 20 days and the sales last for another 20 days. Here, we will harvest from August until December. The aim is to import less and consume more local mangoes, as well as export to Europe and Russia. We will be able to export to all European cities within two days.”
Mangoes grow at less than 350 meters altitude
Ezici announced that sapling production per year is 30k. While people are interested in their marketing activities in the fairs, they also sell online, Ezici reported. Stating that they receive demand from coastal towns like Marmaris, Kusadasi and Bodrum, he said: “Mangoes grow in the area from Samandag to Urla where the altitude is up to 350 meters and where the temperatures don’t fall below 0 degrees Celsius. They can grow both in open air and in greenhouses.”
400 mango saplings in 1 hectare
Ezici said that it is possible to plant 400 mango saplings in a field of one hectare and explained: “In five to six years, one can collect 30k of mangoes from these trees and earn around 150 thousand euro. This is a good revenue. Farmers in the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, farmers grow oranges, other citrus and pomegranates however they don’t earn much. Mango is five times more profitable than bananas and ten times more profitable than citrus.”
Mango trees give first fruits after 3 years and live for 300 years
The total mango production in the world is 46 million tons and it is the second most consumed tropical fruit after bananas, Ezici reported. He stated that a 3 year old sapling, once it is planted, can give its first fruits within the same year. “Mango trees can live for 300 years. They can reach 15 to 20 meters high and they give a lot of fruits.” said Ezici.
In Gazipasa district, farmers grow 27 tropical fruits including mango, litchi, papaya, dragon fruit, passiflora, longan and guava.
Source: Mehmet Cinar, Hurriyet
Translation: Freshplaza