Şırnak'ın Altını: Doğada Bedava, Pazarda 10 Bin TL!

The rugged landscapes of Şırnak, Hakkari, Van, and Malatya are home to a hidden treasure: the kenger plant. This unassuming plant, which thrives in the rural regions of these provinces, yields a valuable commodity after drying out in the summer months: kenger gum. Extracted from its roots through a meticulous and traditional process, this natural gum has become an essential source of income for the local communities.

The production of kenger gum is far from simple. It requires immense effort and time, contributing to its high market value, which is further boosted by its purported health benefits. One such dedicated harvester is Mehmet Demirkaya, a farmer from Kozluca Mahallesi, a district of Akçadağ in Malatya. Every summer, Demirkaya ventures into the mountainous terrain of Büyük Mahalle, spending hours under the sun to collect the precious gum.

His process involves carefully unearthing the kenger plant's roots with a hoe. Once exposed, he makes crosswise cuts with a knife, allowing a milky sap to seep out. This sap is left to harden in the soil for a day before being collected. This painstakingly gathered substance then undergoes a thorough cleaning process.

The harvested gum is taken home and meticulously cleaned, first by being pounded with stones under cold water, and then soaked in hot water to remove any lingering dirt and impurities. The result of this entirely natural process is kenger gum, which is sold by the piece for around 30 TL. The price skyrockets to as much as 10,000 TL per kilogram, making it a lucrative, albeit laborious, source of income for people like Mehmet Demirkaya and many other families across eastern Turkey.