Frost hits the vineyards that have just started to sprout in Manisa. Approximately 25 thousand families who make their living from grapes started the new grape season with disappointment. Vineyards in Sarıgöl, Alaşehir, Ahmetli, Gölmarmara and Saruhanlı districts of Manisa, known as the capital of raisins, were damaged.
Erdal Ziyan, President of Gölmarmara Chamber of Agriculture, said: “Unfortunately, the cold wave on the night of March 29 hit not only Gölmarmara but all districts of Manisa and 25 thousand grape producer families. There are regions in Gölmarmara that received between 30 percent and 100 percent damage. Our producers will not be able to get grapes from the vineyards this year. They have to spend again on the vineyards for next year so that they can get a crop next year. All our farmers should be able to get TARSIM frost insurance. When the farmer has frost insurance, the cost is one thousand liras per decare. Farmers inevitably run away from this cost. State support here needs to increase.”
Bekir Başevirgen, CHP Manisa Deputy and member of the Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Commission, said that 80 to 100 percent of vineyards were damaged by frost.
Başevirgen said, “The grape producer, who has not been smiling for years, has now been hit by frost. On the night of March 29, a cold wave was effective in all districts of Manisa. Almost all of the 25 thousand families who make their living from viticulture have no grapes left in their vineyards. Producers want Manisa to be declared a disaster area.”