Historic and Touristic Sites
Islahiye is one of the oldest settlement areas in the province of Gaziantep, and it is quite rich in terms of history and tourism.

THE DISTRICT’S ECONOMY
The district’s economy is based on agriculture, livestock and forestry. The main plants that are grown include pepper, wheat, onion, sugar beet, cotton, barley, legumes, olives, garlic, soy beans, corn, Antep pistachio and grapes. Vegetable growing is practiced near the rivers. The mountainous parts of the district focuses more on the livestock and forestry. Cattle, sheep and hair goats are bred. There are bauxite and dolomite deposits in the district lands.

GRAPES OF OUR DISTRICT
Grape is the primary product that is grown in our district. It is one of the two products moving towards branding with its quality and flavour. This fruit is so important for our district that its name was given to a town in the district. Grape growing is practiced mainly in Islahiye, and Karapinar village, Yenikoy, Kırıkcali village, Asagibilenler, Yukaribilenler village and especially in Atinuzum, Bogazici and Yesilyurt towns to a high degree. Table grapes are among the types of grapes that are mostly grown in our district. In addition, there are grapes grown for fermentation, wine production and drying. Various kinds of grapes are grown, including Antep karasi, hatun parmagi, seedless perlet, sultani, kardinal, Yalova incisi, Trakya ilkeren, ata sarisi, uslu, pafi, and dokulgen. Hatun parmagi and Antep karasi constitute 75% of all vineyards.
Annual amount of grapes grown in an area of one-hundred decares in our district is around 174 thousand tonnes. Meeting 70% of Turkey’s need for table grape, Islahiye grapes are exported to many countries including Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Germany, Dubai, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Estimated annual amount of grapes for 2010 is 80 thousand tonnes, while estimated amount of exports for 2010 is 15 thousand tonnes. The cold-storage warehouse opened with the initiative of the Local Authority, as well as cold-storage warehouses opened by the private sector are at the disposal of the grape trade.

PEPPERS OF OUR DISTRICT
Red pepper is one of the most commonly used spices in the world which has a special place in trade. Turkey also takes place among the most important red pepper producing countries, its red pepper production being above the world average. Southeastern, Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey are the main regions with red pepper cultivation. Islahiye pepper, which grows in the fertile Islahiye Plain between the Southeastern and Mediterranean Regions, has a special place. The chili pepper that is grown in Islahiye is unique with its nutritional value, eye-catching dark red colour and its taste.

Chili pepper production from the farm to the factory is still only practiced in Islahiye. Our district produces 80-100 thousand tonnes of wet pepper on average in an area of 26.250 (da). 16 thousand dry peppers are gained from the cultivated wet peppers. Annual red pepper production varies by year. Almost all the produced amount is used for consumption in the domestic market, while some of it is exported. Delicious Islahiye Pepper is planted in February. The harvest starts around early August and ends in mid-September, and the harvesting process is repeated 3-4 times. During the harvest period, workers are brought from neighboring provinces as the number of workers in the district is low. Pepper harvest provides employment for around 3 thousand people, vitalizing the district’s economy. Once the harvest starts, Islahiye experiences fervent work. Housewives in Islahiye usually prepare their winter peppers and pepper pastes on their own to prepare for the winter. The Islahiye pepper often used in factories for the production of chili powder is also utilised by our ladies as pepper paste. Therefore, every household meets their annual pepper need by preparing their own pepper paste, while some of the ladies contribute to the family budget by selling the pepper pastes that they have prepared at home. During this period, every household is in a rush for preparing pepper paste and neighbors help each other in the preparation of pepper paste.

Red pepper not only increases country employment by demanding intensive labor during the production phase, but also contributes greatly to the country economy with its use as a raw material in agriculture-based industrial enterprises as well as its export in dried and ground forms. Aside from its economic value, pepper is also a very healthy product. Red peppers are very beneficial for human health and they have great nutritional value. Red pepper is good for many sicknesses, particularly cholera and gout, increases perspiration, provides coolness (one of the reasons why it’s used in hotter climates). It is appetizing. It is used for stopping coughs and sore throat, a natural sedative for neurological diseases, helps prevention of extreme fat and cholesterol accumulation in the body. The researches have shown positive effects at the "capsalcin" blood lipid levels It positively influences the blood stream. It kills microbes. It is effective in the prevention of diseases with its antibacterial effect.

According to a research made by the Nottingham University, chili pepper destroys cancerous cells. "Capsaicin", which is found in chili pepper, triggers the death of cancerous cells and doesn’t harm healthy cells. Red pepper also has a soothing effect for arthritis and joint pains. In a study, people who suffered from severe joint pain were injected "capsaicin" and most of their pain substantially stopped. It regulates the gastric acid and facilitates digestion. The red "carotenoid" substance in the pepper helps prevent cancer. Red pepper is rich in vitamin C. The ratio of vitamin C in red pepper is higher than in lemon. Red pepper has twice as much vitamin C as green pepper. Aside from all these benefits, red pepper was also proven to influence weight loss.