Muğla mastic trees yield first harvest after 11 years

Muğla, Turkey, has reached a significant milestone in its mastic resin production project. Following a project initiated by the Muğla Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry in 2015, mastic trees have begun yielding their first harvest after an 11-year growth period.

Currently, the first harvest is producing approximately 80 to 100 grams of resin per tree. Officials expect this yield to increase to between 400 and 500 grams per tree as the plants reach full maturity. To date, approximately 100 decares of mastic orchards have been established across various districts, excluding Kavaklıdere and Yatağan.

The initiative aims to reduce Turkey’s heavy reliance on mastic imports, which are used extensively in the food, cosmetic, medical, and aromatic sectors. By distributing free saplings from the Aegean Agricultural Research Institute to local farmers, the project seeks to create new income streams for rural producers and revitalize endemic plant production in the region.