The economy before 1940 was based on sheep and goat herds grazing during the winter on the snow-free slopes of the Kızılırmak valley, and in summers in "Kaşlı Yayla"—summer green mountain pastures six hours march to the north-northwest 41°12′59″N 34°43′57″E / 41.2163°N 34.7325°E / 41.2163; 34.7325).

The villagers also practiced subsistence farming, growing grains and fruits on the south-facing slopes of the valley.

The irrigation entrepreneur was "Şamlı Hüseyin (Yayla)", a native of the village who trained as a teacher in Damascus and later worked as a shopkeeper in Boyabat.

[citation needed] The wet farming of rice as a cash crop became a good source of income and other river valley communities nearby copied the irrigation scheme.

In 1958 the Turkish government started evaluating the valley for the possible construction of a hydroelectric dam and power station.