Kitreli

Kitreli is a village in Çiftlik District of Niğde Province, Turkey. Its population is 1,188 (2022). Before the 2013 reorganisation, it was a town (belde). It is situated in a high peneplain at 1600 m elevation. The distance to Çiftlik is 15 km and to Niğde is 87 km. (Aksaray, the capital of the next province is closer to Kitreli than Niğde). The name Kitreli refers to tragacanth (kitre) a natural gum, produced around the town. The settlement was founded two centuries ago by a group of families from Aksaray or Altunhisar. In 1953 it was declared a seat of township. Main economic sector is agriculture. Cereal, potato and sunflower are the main products. Although there are also apple gardens (like most other places in Niğde Province) irrigation facilities are not sufficient for a large scale production. Dairying and weaving are secondary activities.