Production of “Ayas” tomatoes from Ankara has sustained significant losses this season due to heavy rains and the growers are trying to recoup their losses with zucchini production.
The growers note that they have lost almost as much as 80 % of their tomato production and they claim that they could not fulfill the orders coming from the market side.
However growers in the region are expanding zucchini production areas from 200 hectares to 500 hectares due to successful production numbers in recent years. The productivity has been very high and zucchini fields started to replace melon fields in the area. Melon production had taken a significant hit in recent years in terms of quality due to the soil being worn out and the growers are looking at zucchini as an alternative product.
The growers are also working with local state officials to prepare a 3 year plan to bring melon production back to where it was before.