Value Added Analysis of Grape Production in Dulkadiroğlu District of Kahramanmaraş Province

Abstract

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), one of the oldest cultivated plants, is an economically important temperate climate plant grown in the world and in our country. Developing value-added products from grape products is a topic that needs to be brought to the agenda. However, adding value to a product or developing a new product requires a certain process. The aim of this study is to test the value-added analysis in grape production by taking the Dulkadiroğlu district of Kahramanmaraş province as an example. The primary data of the study consists of data obtained from surveys conducted in October-November 2024 with producers producing grapes in the Dulkadiroğlu district of Kahramanmaraş province. The number of sample enterprises in the research was determined according to the stratified random sampling method and the sample volume was determined as 111 enterprises. According to the results of this research; In the Bertiz region, where viticulture activities are intensive in the Dulkadiroğlu district, the Kabarcık variety, which is generally cultivated, is mostly used as grape juice, as well as being consumed as table grape, walnut sujuk and bastık. In addition, Mahrabaşı, Antep Karası, Azezi, Yıldız Grapes are also among the varieties produced and evaluated for drying. A training system called serpene is generally used in the region. General maintenance operations such as disease-pest control, fertilization and plowing are intensively seen in the region. The biggest problem in production is the distance to the market and transportation problems as well as disease control. The most important value-added products produced from grapes in the Bertiz region are molasses and walnut sujuk. It is important to introduce these high value-added products to the world and our country and to ensure branding. In addition, it is important to introduce value-added products such as pickled leaves, revanda sherbet, vinegar to the region.