Rice Harvest Season Begins in Bafra Plain
· Tarım TV
The new harvest season has commenced in Samsun's Bafra district with the 13th Rice Harvest Festival, where the first ceremonial rice ağa (notable) was elected for the crop that generates 4 billion Turkish Lira for the regional economy.
The rice harvest officially began with a ceremony as part of the 13th Rice Harvest Festival held in Samsun's Bafra district. Within the event, Turkey's first ceremonial rice ağa was elected, with producer Osman Akbaş acquiring the title in exchange for a donation of 400,000 Turkish Lira. It was announced that the collected donation will be transferred as educational support to students in need at Bafra Dedeli Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School of Agriculture.
Speaking at the ceremony, Samsun Deputy Governor Mehmet Fikret Çavuş drew attention to the role of producers in food security:
Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Kemal Yılmaz, reported that 18% of the approximately 1 million tons of rice produced nationwide is supplied by Samsun. Emphasizing Bafra's 66% share in the provincial production, Kemal Yılmaz made the following statement:
Kemal Yılmaz also stated that the geographical indication registration for Bafra rice in 2026 will provide a commercial gain for producers.
| Value | Period | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 400 thousand TL | 2026 | Rice seedling donation amount |
| 1 million tonnes | 2026 | Total rice production in Turkey |
| 18% | 2026 | Samsun's share in Turkey's rice production |
| 66% | 2026 | Bafra's share in Samsun's rice production |
| 4500 people | 2026 | Number of rice producers in Samsun |
| 4 billion TL | 2026 | Contribution of Bafra rice to the provincial economy |