The European Football Championship starting in Munich, Germany on 14th June 2024 has fortunately helped in increasing the sale of watermelons from Adana, Türkiye. While teams from 24 countries are in the process of preparing for the one month long tournament, the synchronizing of the event with Adana watermelon production has boosted orders of the fruit from the European market especially Germany.
Perfect Timing for Adana’s Watermelon Harvest
Adana watermelon is harvested during summer and it is in perfect harmony with the European Football Championship, thus giving local farmers a perfect opportunity. Mehmet Akın Doğan, the head of the Yüreğir chamber of agriculture in Adana, underlined this aspect of good timing, pointing to the fact that the championship occurs during the watermelon harvest.
Increased Demand from European Markets
Football enthusiasts are now travelling to Germany and other host countries, and this has boosted the consumption of refreshing commodities such as watermelon. Adana’s famous watermelons are being harvested, packed and delivered to several European countries to meet this demand.
Economic Benefits for Turkish Farmers
The economic effect of these two disasters is clearly seen by the farmers in Adana. “This year the European Football Championship which is held at the same time with our watermelon period has made our farmers very happy,” Doğan stated. They are currently affordable, and if the prices do not go up, the farmers are the ones that will benefit most.
Export Process and Logistics
The export process includes harvesting watermelons from fields, packing them in local companies, and sending them to Europe. Doğan continued: “Currently, there is no scarcity of watermelon. All the watermelons are picked from the field and after they are transported to the packaging centers, they are packed and exported immediately.”
Anticipated Yield and Future Projections
Adana plans to produce 700,000 tons of yields from 105,000 decares of land this year. If the financial returns are positive, the cultivation area is expected to grow even larger the following year. Such projection indicates the future advantages of this fortunate association with the European Football Championship.
Farmers’ Optimism and Future Opportunities
Farmers such as Mahmut Fırat in Karataş district are interested in the export potential. ”We are glad to export watermelon to Europe,” he said, a statement that is an indication of the positive attitude among local farmers. It is believed that the championship has a ‘doping effect’ for the watermelon market in Europe and may increase its popularity and consumption.
As the European Football Championship kicks off, Adana’s watermelon producers are enjoying a surge in demand, highlighting the positive impact of international events on local agriculture. This year’s harvest season promises to be particularly fruitful, with the potential for significant economic benefits and future growth in the cultivation area.
