MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Dersim – Şükran Yılmaz, who sells the grapes she picks from her own vineyard at the village market located in Dersim, is also an environmental activist. In summer, she makes a living by selling grapes at the village bazaar while she travels from village to village distributing mulberry and walnut tree seeds to encourage women to take part in the production in winter. The only goal of Şükran Yılmaz, who admires the nature of Dersim, is to encourage women’s participation in production.

We aim to increase production

Şükran Yılmaz has lived in Dersim for six years and sold grapes at the village bazaar for four years. She is only one of the dozens of women selling natural products at the bazaar. “I have sold the grapes at the bazaar for years. There are many women selling their natural products at the bazaar. I also try to encourage women living in the villages to produce organic products. I sell grapes in summer and distribute seeds in winter. I travel village by village to distribute them because organic products are important for us. After visiting the villages, women begin to produce other natural products in their gardens. As they produce, they earn more. Now, many women come to the bazaar to sell their products,” Şükran Yılmaz told us.

Our aim is to plant 2 million trees

Şükran Yılmaz feels happy when she works and produces. “I love the nature of Dersim. I don’t want this nature to deteriorate. For instance, the grapes I have sold at the bazaar for years are free from chemicals and pesticides. I pick the amount that I can sell at the bazaar and leave the rest for the birds and bees. I also plant the seeds I distribute. I aim to plant 2 million trees across Dersim. When I began to distribute the seeds, the villagers found it strange. The people didn’t understand why a woman visits villages to distribute seeds. After a while, they understood me and supported me.”

“We should protect the nature of Dersim”

The number of women selling natural products at the bazaar increases. “We try to not buy products from other cities,” Şükran Yılmaz said,” The number of women selling natural products is more than last years. This number is increasing day by day. Women produce and sell what they produce at the bazaar. We don’t want the citizens to buy products from other cities because the nature of Dersim allows us to plant all kinds of vegetables and fruits. We should protect the nature of Dersim.”