Afforestation and Rural Development with Carob
The carob tree is a species that has been used as both animal feed and food source in the Mediterranean countryside for centuries and can survive with little input. In recent years, the tree is not only for its fruit; It is seen that it has started to be mentioned together with rural development titles such as reforestation of degraded areas, providing additional income to forest villagers and branding of local products.
In this article, we discuss the place of carob in the rural economy, the production trend in Turkey, its use in forest villages, the experiences gained from afforestation and pasture practices, and the points to be considered in order to realize this potential, based on sources.
Why is Carob on the Rural Development Agenda?
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a long-lived and evergreen tree adapted to the hot and arid coastal belt of the Mediterranean basin. It is highlighted in extensive reviews that it has contributed to the economy of Mediterranean countries for centuries, especially as animal feed, and today its value is expanding through food, gum (E410) and different industrial applications. A 2024 review by Martins-Loução et al. reports that despite the increase in the economic value of the tree, there has been a 65 percent decrease in carob cultivation across the Mediterranean in the 21st century. The same study states that at a time when water resources are scarce and soils are poor in nutrients due to climate change, there is a renewed focus on this species, which can cope with unpredictable weather conditions.
What makes carob interesting in terms of rural development is not the exaggerated claims that make it a "miracle tree"; it can also be used in marginal lands with a cultivation structure that requires low inputs. In the introduction of an extraction study conducted in Cyprus, it is stated that carob stands out as a sustainable product due to its ability to be grown with little input and the rich composition of its fruit. However, the same sources also remind us that carob is treated as a forest type in many regions with the logic of "least care, least income", and this situation is limiting on both yield and fruit quality. In other words, the potential is real; however, it does not happen spontaneously.
Outlook of Carob Production in Turkey
In Turkey, carob is predominantly distributed along the Mediterranean coastline. The "Carob Agriculture and Industry Feasibility Report" published by the Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA) in 2024 conveys a remarkable trend based on TURKSTAT data:
| Indicator (TurkStat data, from BAKA 2024 report) | 2018 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Planting area (decare) | 6.821 | 16.980 |
| Production (tons) | 15.506 | 25.106 |
According to the same report, Antalya and Mersin were the prominent provinces with a production of 13,095 tons and 8,776 tons in 2022. The report states that Adana, Antalya and Mersin account for approximately 93 percent of the total planting area, and there is also production in Burdur, Muğla and Osmaniye. It should be noted that a different figure (16,890 decares) is mentioned for the 2022 area in the introduction of the report, while 16,980 decares are written in the table; due to such minor discrepancies, it is recommended to look directly at the TURKSTAT database in current decision-making processes.
These figures show that the registered orchard area has increased significantly in a short time. However, it is also known that a significant part of the carob presence in Turkey does not come from regular orchards, but from natural or semi-natural trees in forested and maquis areas. For this reason, the rural development debate is not only about establishing new gardens, but also about making better use of the existing tree presence.
Forest Villagers and Carob: From Home Economics to Market
Carob is also considered under the title of "non-wood forest products" in Turkey. Within the scope of the Mediterranean Forests Integrated Management Project carried out in cooperation with the General Directorate of Forestry and with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey office published a research report examining the value chain of carob from the forest to the market in the case of Gülnar and Gazipaşa Forestry Directorates (2019). The fact that such a study has even been carried out shows that carob is seen as a separate topic in the forest peasant economy.
A field study examining the use of forest products by individuals living in the mountainous parts of Mersin (Akıncı and Bostan Budak, 2020) also completes the picture. In the study, 58.6 percent of the participants used carob occasionally and 24.2 percent used it all the time; it was reported that 17.2 percent did not use it at all. It is reported that 42.2 percent of the collection work is done by men, 10.8 percent by women, and 47 percent by men and women together. Researchers stated that carob is mainly used for family needs in the region and commercial purposes are not at the forefront.
This finding is important: Carob is a product that is already known and used in rural areas; however, it has not turned into a source of income in many households. The main area of rural development opens right here. Delivering the product collected by the household for its own consumption to the market in a regular, high quality and traceable manner; collecting, drying, storing and first processing stages locally can increase the share of the value remaining in the village.
Lessons from Afforestation and Pasture Practices
The use of carob in afforestation has both an environmental and economic dimension. Since the environmental benefits of the tree, such as erosion control and carbon sequestration, are a separate topic, we will focus more on the economic and social aspects of the application here.
The BAKA report states that carob is recommended for the reforestation of degraded coastal areas threatened by erosion and desertification and is also used as a windbreak. Martins-Loução et al. also state that carob can provide a valuable product in afforestation and restoration programs, as well as contribute to biodiversity conservation and soil recovery.
A concrete example is the Cretan practice documented in the World Information Network on Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT). In the Heraklion region, carob was planted in pasture areas at 6-meter intervals, with approximately 120 saplings per hectare; it is explained that the saplings were kept away from grazing with fences or protection for at least 10 years, and after the trees developed, the area was reopened for sheep grazing. In the record, the installation cost was given as 9,770 euros per hectare and the annual maintenance cost as 796 euros. The short-term return was evaluated as negative for both installation and maintenance, while the long-term return was evaluated as positive.
The most important lesson from this example is this: Afforestation with carob is a long-term investment. In the same record, it is suggested that keeping animals away from the field for at least 10 years reduces household income in the short term and this deficit can be closed with tools such as support per animal. In other words, it is not enough to say to rural households "plant trees and you will earn in the future"; support mechanisms are needed to carry the transition period.
Sources of Rural Income: Fruit, Seeds and New Opportunities
- Collection and sale of dried fruit
- Separating the seed and evaluating it as a raw material for the gamut industry
- Local scale production of traditional products such as molasses, flour/powder
- Evaluation of leaves and fruits in animal nutrition
- Complementary activities such as beekeeping and rural tourism
Martins-Loução et al. explain that in some parts of the Mediterranean, olive, carob, almond and fig trees used to be grown together; over time, some of these mixed orchards were abandoned and turned into maquis, while others switched to "part-time agriculture", where carob fruit was used as a valuable source of income during less productive periods. The same review states that in rain-based (dry) farming systems, mixed orchards can offer higher income potential while preserving crop diversity and biodiversity. In the review, it is also stated that carbon sequestration can be considered as an economic incentive, and in some calculations, it can even contribute 125-300 percent of income. However, it should be taken into account that such carbon market revenues depend on the legislation and verification systems that vary from country to country, and are not a ready income item for every producer.
On the kernel side, the situation is different: Carob kernel is the raw material for the production of locust bean gum and its economic value is considered much higher than the fleshy part of the fruit. For this reason, the separate evaluation of the seed by crushing and separating the collected fruit increases the value obtained in the whole chain. On the subject in detail What is Carob Seed? We discussed it in our article.
Grafting, Sapling Distribution and Geographical Indication
A frequently talked about topic in terms of rural development is the grafting of wild (delice) carob trees and transforming them into productive varieties. The BAKA report states that the most efficient and common grafting method in carob is the T eye graft performed in April-May, this is applied on rootstocks with a diameter of 1–2 cm, and chip and patch grafts are also used. The report also recommends planting in 6 x 6 meter spacings and 30–40 cm pits in the garden facility. Grafting is an approach that attracts attention in rural areas as it uses the existing root system compared to planting new saplings; however, the graft requires knowledge of subsequent pruning and maintenance.
Another tool to increase the value of the local product is the geographical indication. According to the news of the Economy Newspaper dated 2025, the Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO) has obtained geographical indication registration with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office under the name "Alanya Carob" and distributed 3 thousand carob saplings to producers. The geographical indication does not make the product valuable on its own; however, it can help the local producer distinguish himself in the market by providing a framework that defines quality, origin and production method.
Considerations for Success
When the sources are evaluated together, it is seen that the contribution of carob to rural development depends on several conditions:
- Long-term planning: The tree yields late; the loss of income in the first years should be taken into account.
- Care and knowledge: Although it lives with little input, knowledge of pruning, grafting and fertilization directly affects yield and quality.
- Post-harvest quality: Storing the collected fruit dry, clean and free of impurities facilitates market access.
- Organizing: Cooperatives, unions, or collection centers that pool small quantities can increase bargaining power.
- Local processing: Initial processing steps such as crushing, sorting, molasses, and flour/powder production can ensure that value remains local.
- Support and legislation: It is necessary to know the tools such as leasing of treasury lands, grants and supports.
As an example for this last item, the BAKA report states that according to the National Real Estate regulations, treasury lands can be leased for perennial plants for a long time and that there are support items for small family businesses and organic carob production for 2023. Since the support amounts may change every year, up-to-date information should be confirmed from the relevant institutions.
The warning of Martins-Loução et al. should also be kept in mind: carob may not be a competitive crop in regions dominated by irrigated fruit trees such as oranges and avocados; it is stated that agricultural policies should offer special support for the spread of this slow-growing species. In short, carob is not a competitor of the most productive agricultural lands; rather, it is a strong option for exploiting dry, sloping and difficult areas for other crops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does afforestation with carob provide immediate income?
The tree yields late and requires protection and care in the first years. In the case of Crete, it has been reported that the short-term return is negative and the long-term return is positive.
Does carob only grow on marginal land?
Its strength is that it can be used in marginal lands; however, yield and fruit quality are affected by soil, water and maintenance conditions. More regular crops are expected to be obtained in better conditions.
How can forest villagers earn more income from carob?
Steps such as clean and dry storage of fruit, marketing small quantities together, separate evaluation of the seed and local processing can increase the remaining share of the value in the village.
What does a geographical indication do?
It helps distinguish the product in the market by identifying its origin and characteristics. Its economic impact depends on how effectively the registration is used in production and marketing.
Carob Value Chain with Carob Türkiye
Carob is the starting point of a long value chain from a fruit collected in the garden or forest to raw materials such as seeds and powder used in industry. Quality and continuity in every link of this chain affect the earnings of everyone, from rural producers to end users.
At Carob Türkiye, we supply carob fruit, crumbs, flour/powder, seeds, and extracts. Our Products Our Products page, Carob Fruit and Carob Seed You can take a look at the pages. To get to know carob in general What is Carob? You can read our article; For your wholesale and export requests Contact Now You can contact us on our page.
Domestic resources
Erbaş, S. (preparer), "Carob Agriculture and Industry Feasibility Report", Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA), 2024. DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY.
gov. en/ assets/ upload/ files/ Keciboy... UNDP Turkey, "Non-Wood Forest Products: Carob Value Chain Analysis" (Mediterranean Forests Integrated Management Project, Research Report 2018), 2019. UNDP.
org/ en/ node/ 36986 Akıncı, S., Bostan Budak, D., "Use of Forest Products by Individuals Living in Mountainous Areas in Mersin Province", Turkish Journal of Agriculture – Food Science and Technology, 8(1), 220–225, 2020. doi.
org/ 10. 24925/ turjaf. v8i1. 220- 225. 2980 Economy Newspaper, "ALTSO received a geographical indication for carob and distributed 3 thousand saplings", June 1, 2025. economy newspaper.
com/ cities/ altso- carob- geo- … Foreign sources
Martins-Loução, M. A., Correia, P. J., Romano, A., "Carob: A Mediterranean Resource for the Future", Plants, 13(9), 1188, 2024. doi.
org/ 10. 3390/ plants13091188 Daliakopoulos, I. (ed.), "Grazing land afforestation with Ceratonia siliqua (carob trees) in the Mediterranean [Greece]", WOCAT Technologies Database, 2013. QCAT.
wocat. net/ en/ wocat/ technologies/ view/ permalink/ 1601 Antoniou, C., Kyratzis, A., Rouphael, Y., Stylianou, S., Kyriacou, M. C., "Heat- and Ultrasound-Assisted Aqueous Extraction of Soluble Carbohydrates and Phenolics from Carob Kibbles of Variable Size and Source Material", Foods, 9(10), 1364, 2020. doi.
Scientific Resourcesorg/ 10. 3390/ foods9101364
