Gercüş is a district of Batman province in Türkiye. The district, with a population of 19,660, has an area of 914 km² at an altitude of 950 meters, and a population density of 22 people/km². Gercüş, located 62 km from Batman city center, is established on a plateau surrounded by mountains, on the northern slope of mountains reaching 1200 meters, known as the Mardin-Midyat threshold. To its south are Midyat, to its north Hasankeyf, to its east Dargeçit, and to its west Savur and Bismil districts. A terrestrial climate prevails in the district.
History
The old name of Gercüş was known as Şahmar during the period when the road extending from Diyarbakır to Damascus passed through it. The name Kefercevs, thought to be derived from the Syriac word “kefer” (village), gradually transformed into Kercevs and then Gercüş. While it was a village dependent on the Mardin Sanjak, it gained district status on 30 May 1926 and was annexed to Batman province on 16 May 1990. There are settlements affiliated with the district, like Hisar, Arıca, Kırkat, and Yamanlar, whose history dates back to B.C.
Geographical Structure
Gercüş is located on a plateau at an altitude of 950 meters. Its area is 1070 km², and the average temperature is 20°C. The average annual rainfall varies between 500-600 mm. The district is surrounded by mountainous terrain.
Population and Administrative Structure
Gercüş has a population of 19,660 and is the district with the highest rural population ratio (69.8%) in Batman. The district has 1 town, 6 neighborhoods, and 58 villages. Gercüş, located on the Batman-Mardin highway, faces migration to large cities due to limited social facilities.
Economy and Agriculture
The economy in Gercüş largely relies on agriculture, and viticulture is the district's most important agricultural activity. A large part of the total 61,940 decares of vineyard area in Batman is located in Gercüş. Local grape varieties such as Mazrona, Zeyti, Kırfok, Beyzılhımam, Sınceri, Bınetati, Devani, Koher, Tayfi, Hılsık, Kerküş, and Hasani are grown in the district. Mazrona, the most common grape variety, is used in the production of table grapes, raisins, grape molasses (pekmez), fruit leathers (pestil), and walnut sausages (cevizli sucuk). Gercüş Mazrona grape stands out with its high sugar content and is processed into products such as raisins, grape juice, walnut sausages, fruit leathers, vinegar, grape seed oil, and pickled leaves, primarily for pekmez production. Projects encouraging grape, walnut, and pistachio production are carried out with Agency support. However, the industry sector has not developed, and there are no industrial establishments in the district. The development of agriculture-based industries (processing, packaging, storage facilities) is recommended for increasing added value.
Infrastructure and Social Areas
Gercüş Municipality has carried out infrastructure works such as sewerage, a life park, and road arrangements with Agency support. However, the limited social areas restrict the district's development. The historical Government Mansion, built in 1933, was restored in 2021 and opened for service in 2022. Kırkat Dam Recreation Area has been arranged to meet the social needs of the public.
Tourism
The tourism potential in Gercüş relies on faith and nature tourism. Seyid Bilal Tomb and Mor Aho Monastery are important destinations for faith tourism. Kırkat Dam, located in the Tigris basin and 8 km from the district, irrigates an area of 348 hectares. It is planned to utilize the area around the dam with hiking trails, water sports infrastructure, and tourism projects. The historical Government Mansion is also aimed to be brought into tourism.
Education and Industry
There are no higher education institutions in the district. The industry and service sectors are underdeveloped, and there are no businesses that have reached an enterprise scale. The establishment of a small industrial site is among the recommended projects for industrial development.
