The extreme cold weather in Antalya over the past week has slowed down the ripening of crops in greenhouses. This situation has led to an increase in prices. The minimum price of tomatoes, which was 15 lira on February 14th, has doubled. Greenhouses in Mersin and Hatay also suffered significant damage.

The Mediterranean region has been under the influence of cold weather for the past week. Farmers in Antalya were taking shifts to ensure their crops in greenhouses were not damaged. However, the heaters they lit at night were not enough to protect their crops from frost.

Due to the slowed ripening of crops, the harvest quantity decreased. There was a shortage in crop supply. Prices went up. In Antalya, the minimum tomato price, which was 15 TL on February 14th, increased by 100% to 30 TL.

The cultivated areas in Mersin were also hit by frost. Almost all the flowering trees and about 30% of the crops in greenhouses were damaged.

Under the leadership of the Governor of Mersin, Atilla Toros, an “Agricultural Products Crisis Desk” was established. Damage assessment studies are ongoing in the province.

In Hatay, night-time temperatures dropped below zero over the past week. In the Defne district, many products grown in the greenhouses, especially the kapya peppers intended for export, suffered damage.

The teams from the Defne Agriculture and Forestry Directorate conducted preliminary inspections and assessments in the Toygarlı Neighborhood, where the damage was significant.