Greenhouse farming on the rise in southeast Turkey

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The number of greenhouses in the Kurdish-majority province of Sanliurfa (Riha) in southern Turkey is growing, particularly in the Suruc district, because of enhanced water supply from Ataturk dam.

The greenhouses produce vegetables like eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes, which are scarce in winter and very expensive.

"We plant them before spring. Or we plant at the end of fall and the produce comes out during winter. Since there is no produce in the market during winter, this produce sells for a good price. We recommend to farmers and request that everyone build a greenhouse system and do this farming," Mehmet Tekce, an agricultural engineer, told Rudaw. 

The greenhouses are heated with hot water systems and stoves, and the produce is exported to markets across the country and abroad. Farmers say job opportunities have come to their doorstep.

Ibrahim Akkus is a farmer. 

"It's not very difficult, you plant once and hoe it twice. Look, we put stoves in winter, when the weather gets cold the stoves are lit. After this they turn red, and one collects them and takes them to the produce market. It's good, at least it's at home," he said. 

The first agricultural greenhouse was established in Sanliurfa in 2000. Now 447 farmers work on 193 hectares of land covered with greenhouses, according to official figures.

Besides vegetables, flowers and roses are also grown in these greenhouses.