Champion candidate watermelons kept in cold storage

The Diyarbakır watermelon, produced using pigeon manure in the sandy soils along the banks of the Tigris River, is being promoted through organized events. The watermelons, produced with great effort by farmers, were brought to the Meat and Milk Board in the central Yenişehir district following the harvest. The watermelons, weighed by officials there, were then placed into cold storage. The 64 watermelons weighing 25 kilograms or more that were received this year will compete in an event to be held in the garden of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry on September 28.

"A VARIETY WHOSE SEEDS HAVE BEEN USED FOR 1000 YEARS"

Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Mustafa Ertan Atalar stated that Diyarbakır is one of the leading provinces in Turkey for commercial watermelon production.

Expressing that there are "sürme", "pembe", "ferik", "beyaz kış" (white winter), and "kara kış" (black winter) varieties of the registered Diyarbakır watermelon grown using local seeds and traditional methods, Atalar noted that these varieties can exceed 50 kilograms in weight depending on their genetic structure and cultivation methods.

Explaining that the Diyarbakır watermelon is grown with special care using pigeon manure in sandy soils at water level along the banks of the Tigris River, Atalar noted the following:

"There are not many people left who grow them using this method. However, based on traditional methods, the Diyarbakır watermelon, especially the 'sürme' variety, is still grown in the same regions, in the soils along the banks of the Tigris River, with special care. We have 10-12 producers left who do this production. Since it does not find the value it deserves commercially, the growers have turned from the traditional watermelon method to commercial watermelons. (The sürme variety) is a very valuable variety. It is a variety whose name is mentioned in the Diyarbakır yearbooks and whose seeds have been used for approximately 1000 years. Therefore, as it is a very important value, we are doing our best to keep it alive."

Stating that when they look at the watermelons registered this year, they see that their weight has increased compared to last year, Atalar conveyed that the watermelons were weighed by the commission according to three separate periods as they ripen at different times and were then placed in cold storage.

"THEY ARE COMPLETING THE SEASON UNDER OUR CONTROL"

Atalar stated that the watermelons will be kept here until the day of the competition, saying, "This year, we took watermelons weighing 25 kilograms and above into storage. Approximately 64 of our watermelons are currently in storage waiting for the competition day."

Atalar explained that they provide support to the farmers who grow Diyarbakır watermelons and that they start inspections from the moment of seedling planting.

Stating that they provide the necessary medicine and fertilizer support and assist the producer with technical knowledge and infrastructure, Atalar used the expression, "They are completing the season under our constant control. We ensure that they continue this traditional cultivation by supporting the producers with the awards we will give in the competitions."

Atalar said that they invite everyone to the event they will hold in the garden of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry on September 28 at 16:00.

"YIELD IS ALSO GOOD THIS YEAR"

Mehmet Atlı, who produces watermelons with his family in the rural Sinan neighborhood of Bismil district, stated that they put the watermelon seedlings into the soil in the spring.

Atlı said:

"We take care of the watermelon just as a person takes care of their child. We worked for more than 4 months. The yield was also good this year. Compared to last year, the watermelon was larger. Since there is no commercial return, no one is left growing this watermelon variety except for a few families."

Expressing that they want the support given to watermelon producers to continue so that production can continue, Atlı noted that he could not get a yield last year due to drought, and therefore could not present a watermelon to the competition.

Atlı said that he delivered the largest watermelon he harvested this year to the authorities, and his wish is to be the first in the competition.

"I TOOK CARE OF IT LIKE A CHILD"

Atlı's mother, İkram Atlı, who produces watermelons in the same neighborhood, stated in Kurdish that she watered the watermelon seedlings she put into the soil with carried water until they reached a certain size.

Explaining that they plucked and threw away other watermelons connected to the same root so that the watermelon they chose could be well-fed, Atlı said:

"I did not allow a single weed to grow in the field. I took care of it like a nursing child. My hope is to be the first in this competition. We are waiting for the state's support for watermelon production to continue."