Adana begins first early cotton harvest of the season

The first early cotton harvest of the season has commenced in Adana, Turkey, specifically in the coastal areas of the Karataş district. Known locally as ‘white gold,’ the crop is expected to yield a high harvest due to recent rainfall, with an estimated production of approximately 230,000 tons for the region.

Cotton serves as a critical raw material for multiple industries: the fiber supports textiles, the seeds are used for oil and animal feed, the linters supply the paper industry, and the meal supports livestock. Adana currently ranks fifth in cotton production within Turkey.

Despite the high expected yield, farmers face economic challenges. Due to increased input costs and falling prices, the total area planted with cotton in the Çukurova region has decreased to 58,000 decares. Mehmet Akın Doğan, President of the Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture, noted that domestic prices are heavily influenced by global market trends because customs duties cannot be increased. He called for higher government subsidies, noting that the current support is 1,652 lira per decare, and requested special considerations for farmers in arid regions like Karataş and Ceyhan where alternative crops cannot grow.