Harvest Excitement Begins in Sesame Fields in Konya's Meram District

September 20, 2026 · haberdairesi.com

In Konya's Meram district, a productive harvest season is expected for sesame, the main raw material for tahini production, thanks to the impact of spring rains.

As the harvest period for sesame, the main raw material for tahini production, approaches in Konya's Meram district, the latest situation in the fields was inspected on-site. Prof. Dr. Süleyman Soylu, a faculty member at Selçuk University's Faculty of Agriculture, conducted comprehensive observations in the cultivation areas along with İlhan Kartal, the Meram District Director of Agriculture and Forestry, and his technical team. During these field inspections, the process of the traditionally grown product reaching harvest maturity and plant health were directly assessed in the field.

Following the field inspections, Prof. Dr. Süleyman Soylu, a faculty member at Selçuk University's Faculty of Agriculture, commented on the effects of spring rains, stating:

Past official data from the Konya Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry reveal that the Meram district is the central hub for sesame production in the province. According to the announced official figures, 3,000 decares of the approximately 5,200 decares of sesame fields recorded across the province are located in Meram. Of the remaining areas, 1,600 decares are within the borders of Akören and 600 decares within Çumra. Within the scope of the 'Golden Grain of Meram' project, previously carried out in Boyalı Mahallesi, the aim was to utilize arid and fallow lands for sesame production.

Within the framework of efforts to increase production, Tanas and Sarısu local varieties, developed by the Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, were introduced. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the yield per decare, which was approximately 20 kilograms in traditional production, has increased to up to 70 kilograms with these improved local varieties. In line with the project, the aim was to increase the cultivation area to 9,700 decares with the distribution of 2,260 kilograms of certified seeds. Ministry records show that the seed widely used in industry contains 50-60% oil and 25% protein.

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