Earning money a ’tough nut’
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Doğan News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 30, 2009 00:00
MİLAS - Nut producing pines in Muğla’s mountains are very popular among the villagers, as the trees help them sustain a reasonable income.
Most locals residing in the 38 villages around the Beşparmak Mountains are forest workers during the fire season between May and November, and collect pine nuts in the winter, said Hasan Yüksel, a 39-year-old forest fire fighter in Milas. "The production of pine nuts is greatly increasing," he said. "The dealers travel all the way to our villagers to pay five to six Turkish Liras for a kilogram of nuts. The chance to make money here is convincing for those who earlier moved to the cities; they are coming back."
The villagers in Muğla harvest around 70 tons of pine nuts a year, said Muğla Provincial Forestry Director İbrahim Aydın. "Last year, we distributed 1.4 million nut producing pine saplings to villagers. Turkey now is third in pine nut production. We aim to increase production in Muğla to help Turkey take the top spot."
Approximately 10,000 villagers earned a total of 4.5 million liras last year from pine nuts and related products, said Aydın.
The villagers in Muğla harvest around 70 tons of pine nuts a year, said Muğla Provincial Forestry Director İbrahim Aydın. "Last year, we distributed 1.4 million nut producing pine saplings to villagers. Turkey now is third in pine nut production. We aim to increase production in Muğla to help Turkey take the top spot."
Approximately 10,000 villagers earned a total of 4.5 million liras last year from pine nuts and related products, said Aydın.