Biçerler

Biçerler is a Turkish term that refers to people who perform harvesting, or more broadly, to harvesters as a social group. The word is formed from the verb biçmek, meaning to cut or harvest, with the agent suffix -er and the plural suffix -ler, yielding “those who cut/harvest.” In Turkish usage, biçerler can denote seasonal agricultural workers or the collective labor of harvesting crops.

Historically, biçerler played a central role in rural economies, especially in grain-growing regions. They worked during harvest seasons, often using handheld tools such as sickles or scythes, gathering and bundling crops for threshing and transport. The term carries connotations of rural life and communal labor, and it appears in Turkish folklore and narrative as a reference to seasonal labor, village life, and the rhythms of agricultural work.

In modern contexts, the explicit occupational designation biçerler is less common, reflecting changes in agricultural practices and mechanization. The word survives mainly in historical descriptions, literary works, and discussions of traditional rural culture. It may also appear as a surname or as part of regional expressions that evoke harvest or labor.

Biçerler thus represents the workforce behind a pivotal agricultural activity, embodying themes of seasonal labor, communal effort, and the transition from traditional to mechanized farming in Turkish-speaking regions. See also: biçer, agriculture in Turkey, harvest labor.