600 Decares of Olive Groves in Karaman Meet Closed Irrigation System
· Tarım Pusulası
A solar-powered closed irrigation system, completed with an investment of 14.1 million Turkish Liras in Özdemir village, Karaman, has brought water to olive groves on arid lands.
Irrigation Project in Özdemir Village
A modern closed irrigation system, aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, was inaugurated with an official ceremony in Özdemir Village, connected to the Karaman center. The project, implemented within the scope of the Göksu Taşeli Basin Development Project carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, was completed in partnership with the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry and the Provincial Special Administration. Thanks to the facility, approximately 600 decares of arid land and productive olive groves in the Pelitli and Pamukluk locations of the village have been provided with uninterrupted irrigation water. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Özdemir Village Headman İsa Gündüz shared his satisfaction with the following words:
'Our esteemed guests, welcome everyone. You have come with the blessings and bounty of Friday. May Allah be pleased with you, and thank you for your efforts.'
Investment Amount and Technical Infrastructure
The facility, successfully completed despite the challenging geographical conditions of the region, was built at a contract price of 14,177,732.50 TL + VAT. In this engineering marvel, water was successfully pumped from an elevation of 325 meters to a height of 920 meters. To store and distribute water in a controlled manner, three modern water tanks and reservoirs with a total capacity of 1,050 cubic meters were constructed. The entire operation of the system has been supported with full automation infrastructure and made available to producers. Karaman Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Hatice Bulut drew attention to lasting projects, stating:
'Undertake projects that will leave a trace long after you are gone, projects that leave their mark on the ground.'
Continuing her speech, Bulut pointed to the project's permanence in the region:
'No matter how many years pass, this irrigation project will always remain here.'
Zero Energy Cost with Solar Energy
An environmentally friendly model was implemented to eliminate the high electricity costs associated with transporting water to high altitudes. A Solar Power Plant (SPP) with an installed capacity of 375 kWe was constructed using the Provincial Special Administration's own budget to power the pumps at the booster stations. This has zeroed out electricity bills, which constitute one of the largest input costs in agricultural production, providing a direct economic advantage to producers. AK Party Karaman Deputy Osman Sağlam, who attended the ceremony, emphasized the project's importance with these words:
'Hopefully, this transfer water project, this closed-system project, will bring prosperity; to goodness, to beauty... It will contribute to making the lands here more fertile.'
Regional Productivity and Future Goals
With the commissioning of the modern irrigation infrastructure, the yield and quality capacity of olive production on arid lands are expected to increase exponentially. Karaman Governor Hayrettin Çiçek, stating that the investment will strengthen the regional economy, congratulated the producers working under difficult conditions with the following words:
'I congratulate our farmers and villagers who produce under difficult conditions here. They are not undertaking an easy task; they are doing difficult work.'
Governor Çiçek announced that modern irrigation infrastructures will be expanded and rural development investments will continue. The opening program was also attended by Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Col. Osman Saygılı, Provincial General Assembly Speaker Ali İhsan Alanlı, party representatives, Provincial Special Administration executives, and Head of the Chamber of Agriculture Mehmet Bayram.