Aydın road construction causes significant damage to fig orchards

Road construction in the Yaykın neighborhood of Karacasu, Aydın, has caused significant damage to local fig orchards. Intense dust and excavation debris from the project were carried by prevailing winds into nearby agricultural lands, disrupting the pollination process.

According to a damage assessment report prepared by agricultural engineers from the District Agriculture and Forestry Directorate, the dust prevented pollinating flies from entering the fruit. This interference halted pollination activities, negatively affecting fruit set and leading to diseases.

The report identified approximately 825 Sarilop fig trees on a 25-dekar plot. It estimated a 70 percent damage rate, calculating a total financial loss of 257,705 TL. Local producer Erdal Kocabıyık reported that despite investing heavily in pollination efforts this year, the dust caused the figs to fall from the trees, leaving almost no harvestable product.