Sunflower Season Begins in Polatlı After Wheat Harvest

September 9, 2026 · NTV Ekonomi

In Polatlı district of Ankara, the flowering period for sunflowers, planted as a second crop after wheat harvest, has concluded, with producers expecting yields of up to 300 kilograms per decare.

Second Crop Season Begins in Polatlı

In the Polatlı district of Ankara, fields have been planted with oilseed sunflowers as a second crop following the completion of the wheat harvest. Hasan Kılınç, a farmer and agricultural engineer in Hıdırşeyh village, reported that the harvest for the 90-day sunflower variety, which they planted on July 10, is scheduled to take place between October 15 and November 1. Farmer and Agricultural Engineer Hasan Kılınç explained the importance of crop rotation with the following words:

'I have been planting 300-400 decares of second crop sunflowers in this basin for 6-7 years. Sunflowers do not require much water after wheat. Having a second crop after wheat is important for the economic utilization of the land.'

High Yield Expectations Per Decare

Hasan Kılınç stated that sunflowers are a highly mechanization-friendly crop and do not require intensive labor except during the irrigation phase. He expressed great satisfaction with the development this season. Describing the flowering stage in the fields, Farmer and Agricultural Engineer Hasan Kılınç explained the process as follows:

'When they are green, 1-2 flowers open, then the next day you see 3-5. Then suddenly, you see 100. On the third day, the entire field is in bloom. This process, believe me, hasn't even been a week. It's a 5-6 day process. 5 days ago, when we passed through here, we were seeing 1-2 yellow spots. Now they are all yellow. Yellow flowers have bloomed, this period is beautiful.'

Farmer and Agricultural Engineer Hasan Kılınç also shared his yield estimates:

'We expect a yield of between 250-300 kilograms per decare. Our sunflowers are looking good this year.'

Market Price and Revenue Targets

It is emphasized that second crop cultivation on lands with irrigation infrastructure in the region directly contributes to the farmer's budget. As the harvest period approaches, Farmer and Agricultural Engineer Hasan Kılınç evaluated the expected purchase prices in the market:

'Last year it was over 30 Lira. Prices are not fully determined yet this year. We think it will be between 35 and 40 Lira per kilogram.'

Producers expect the product to find buyers in the range of 35-40 TL per kilogram for costs to be covered and the profitability of the second crop to be sustainable.

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