Kiwis specially cultivated by Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Agriculture Faculty students were harvested as part of field practice by students from the Department of Horticulture.

Agriculture Faculty students conduct their classes not only in traditional classroom settings but also in field applications. The Ali Nihat Gökyiğit Research Station, located in the Atakum district’s Kaya Güney neighborhood, offers numerous opportunities for students to receive the most effective training.

The students, who witnessed cultivating various fruits and vegetables, entered the kiwi orchard and harvested them as part of their fieldwork.

“They interact with and learn about kiwis”

Prof. Dr. Ümit Serdar, Head of the Department of Horticulture at OMU Agriculture Faculty, said, “We are harvesting kiwis with our students. This year was arid. We couldn’t irrigate the area sufficiently, so our fruits are slightly smaller. This situation provided our students with the opportunity to see how drought affects fruit growth. They also observe male and female plants and understand the importance of pruning. Some trees have been pruned well, and they yield larger fruits. At Ondokuz Mayıs University, hands-on education is highly significant. The primary purpose is the lesson itself. It’s wonderful for our students to learn about kiwis and gain practical knowledge of harvesting techniques.”

“Preparation for engineering”

Agriculture Faculty student Eylül Comart said, “We are here for practice. We’ve started the kiwi harvest. Practical applications during lessons are very beneficial for us. We conduct the harvest ourselves, preparing for our future engineering careers.”

Student Zehra Çakıcılar added, “We participate in fieldwork as part of our general horticulture classes. We harvest products like kiwis, hazelnuts, and chestnuts. These experiences serve as investments for our future.”

Selçuk Yıldırım, a student in the Agriculture Faculty and a teacher at a school in Samsun, said, “This passion for agriculture pushed us back into student life at this age. One of the biggest problems in education is remaining theoretical without practical application. Our faculty offers very extensive practical fields. In this regard, our faculty is truly advantageous. We conduct fieldwork on viticulture, kiwis, and chestnuts.”

In addition to harvesting kiwis, students also gain hands-on experience by harvesting other crops cultivated at the research station, including chestnuts, hazelnuts, and mushrooms.