The Turk Who Bought Land in Turkey and Started Farming with His Earnings from London
Seçim Gezegen, a native of Karacabey who set off to England at a young age with dreams of learning a foreign language, achieved great success over the years by establishing a fast food chain in London. However, he chose not to just accumulate his earnings abroad, but also to invest in his homeland. Now, everyone is in awe of Gezegen's story, as he turns to agriculture on a thousand-acre plot of land he bought in his hometown of Karacabey.
Born and raised in Bursa, Seçim Gezegen moved to London at a young age with dreams of learning a foreign language. Over the years, he achieved great success by establishing a fast food chain.
Gezegen, who has invested a portion of his earnings back into his hometown, has turned towards the agricultural sector by purchasing nearly a thousand acres of land over the past decade.
Speaking from his farm in Karacabey, Gezegen shared that he graduated from Bursa Hotel Management Tourism and Vocational High School in 1985. He then explained that he moved to London in 1988 with his family's support to study English. After working in various jobs, Gezegen embarked on his entrepreneurial journey by opening his own restaurant.
"Back in those days, the quality of education was exceptional. If you didn't have the opportunity to attend university, this high school truly prepared you for life, especially for the professional world, in the best possible way."
'I started working at the front desk in a four-star hotel. My goal was to become a receptionist, then front desk manager, and eventually climb up the career ladder. This required a good command of a foreign language. Over time, I established a fast food chain there. My family and children continue to run it. Generally, I live in London. Between April and September, I travel to Karacabey to engage in farming. Our connection to the land has never been severed. My late father was also a farmer. Ultimately, our love for the land has led us to production in Turkey for about 1015 years. I have invested part of the money I earned in London in my hometown. Over the past 10 years, I have gradually acquired a thousand acres of land. Every year, I fill my lands with various crops. From April to September, we strive to produce and earn with our sweat. People ask me, 'You have a nice job in London, why farming?' I love working with the land, I love agricultural production. I love it, but it would be much better if it was a bit more systematic.'
Election Planet pointed out that in Turkey, the biggest challenges to agricultural production are the control of agricultural pesticides and high costs.
'The farmer is not only overusing pesticides, but also resorting to many that are prohibited. This is why our products can't pass beyond Bulgaria. In the Marmara region, irrigation farming is prevalent. Grapes are the main crop in the Aegean region. Both in Hatay and Adana, tomatoes are the primary produce. Tomatoes are also grown in Eskişehir. What was once regional farming has now become a national practice. Tomatoes are a significant crop in the Karacabey and Mustafakemalpaşa districts of Bursa, but they are grown everywhere due to the lack of a system. Anyone can plant whatever they wish. Despite the high costs, this keeps prices low. The tomatoes that I sell for 4.60 lira per kilo in the field are sold for five times that price in Karacabey, which is not far away. Do you think the producer is making a profit here?'
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