The cultivation area of geographically indicated Konuralp rice increased by 86 percent in 5 years

DÜZCE (AA) – ÖMER ÜRER – The cultivation area of geographically indicated Konuralp rice grown in Düzce increased by 86 percent in 5 years with state support. After Konuralp rice was registered with a geographical indication in 2019, Düzce Governorship, Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry and Special Provincial Administration carried out joint studies in order to expand its production. As a result of the work carried out within the scope of the “Enabling the Use of Agricultural Lands Project” supported by the General Directorate of Crop Production of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the cultivation area of rice, called the “rice of the Ottoman palace cuisine”, increased from 1316 decares to 2450 decares.

While support was provided by distributing certified paddy seeds to nearly 100 producers in the city, an 86 percent increase in the paddy cultivation area was achieved in the last 5 years. In the support project where technology was included in production, it was aimed to preserve the quality of the product and increase the production capacity. While support is provided to farmers with innovative methods such as seed planting and fertilization with Agricultural Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (ZİHA), the drying and packaging of the product is carried out in modern facilities in the city under high quality standards.

– “Those who know the taste of rice buy it from us every year.” İsmet Aktepe (67), who has been producing rice, which he learned from his grandfathers, for about 50 years, told the AA reporter that he has been in the field and producing since his childhood. Emphasizing that the season was rainy this year and it took a long time to prepare the fields, Aktepe said, “Thank God, we prepared the fields and sowed our seeds.

We will try to do the maintenance as best as we can. The rest is God’s will.” he said. Stating that the history of geographically indicated rice dates back to the Ottoman period, Aktepe said, “Rice cultivation here started in the Ottoman period. It is very different from other types of rice in terms of its taste and aroma. Researchers write that the rice of this place went to the Ottoman palace kitchens. Those who know the taste of this rice buy it from us every year.

This taste is approved by everyone. Anyone who eats this does not eat any other rice.” he said. Aktepe underlined that with the addition of technology to production, they expanded the cultivation areas and increased production, and concluded his words as follows: “The era of carrying out cans on shoulders and fertilizing manually, as we did in the past, is over. It is difficult to find young producers who will do it with the old method, both because of our age.

As we get older, a horse won’t run for 40 years. We are too old to do it the old way. In this sense, the flying thing is smarter than us. We’re not leaving here. I was here at 4.30 in the morning. We are here for 120 days. We cannot leave here for these 120 days. We were too old to do it anymore, and then technology came to our aid. Drones and lasers were purchased and we reduced manpower a little. The efficiency increased accordingly.

Technological tools spread fertilizer and seeds in moderation. In this sense, he is not surprised. “We couldn’t maintain that balance when throwing by hand.”