A center was established in Kumluca to produce tropical fruits in the western districts of Antalya.
The adaptation work of 17 different tropical fruits, including mango and pitaya, has been started in the application greenhouse of Batı Antalya Tropical Fruit Production and Dissemination Center.
It is planned to grow tropical fruit species suitable for the region in the West Antalya Tropical Fruit Production and Dissemination Center established in the Kumluca district of Antalya.
In some districts to the east of Antalya, such as Manavgat, Alanya and Gazipaşa, producers have turned to tropical plants in recent years to generate high yields and income due to the suitability of the regional climate.
After a large number of tropical fruits were grown and exported in the region, work was started to grow tropical fruits in the districts located in the west of the city.
In this context, West Antalya Tropical Fruit Production and Dissemination Center was established 5 months ago in the garden of Kumluca Vocational School with the cooperation of West Mediterranean Development Agency, Kumluca Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Antalya Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry and Akdeniz University.
In order to carry out research and development of the center, which will contribute to the agricultural production income of the region, 4 decares of gardens and modern greenhouses were created.
The Center aims to increase the diversity of agricultural products and expand the cultivation of tropical plants in Kumluca, Finike, Demre and Kaş.
"There are 1200 species of the tropics"
Akdeniz University Kumluca Vocational School Lecturer Lokman Altınkaya told Anadolu Agency (AA) that a tropical fruit research laboratory, where tissue studies will be carried out, has also been established within the center.
Stating that scientific studies on tropical fruit cultivation will be carried out in the center, Altınkaya said:
"We attach great importance to this project because tropical fruit is a new field. There is a lot of information pollution here. We try to prevent information pollution with scientific studies. We do not want to act fast. We try to establish a solid foundation with our experience based on scientific subjects with solid reliable steps. When we say tropical fruit, only bananas and a few fruits comes to mind. There are 1200 tropical species. We will try to select the best ones suitable for our region."
Explaining that they want to ensure the production of tropical fruit species with high added value in the region, Altınkaya said that they will adapt and develop new species every year.
Pointing out the importance of correct production, Altınkaya said, "With this study, we want to offer alternative products to our producers. The aim of our project is that the climates continue to change intensively, we observe this. When a different climatic situation occurs in the next 15-20 years, in a 15-year period these species are ready to be grown in these climatic values, We will say, 'You can use it.' In fact, we are trying to create an agricultural policy in a way that will shape the future." said.
Noting that traditional products such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants and citrus fruits are grown intensively in the region, Altınkaya noted that with the project, the university and the farmer believe that tropical fruit cultivation will increase in the region.
Adaptation study of 17 tropical fruits started
Informing that they started adaptation studies of 17 different tropical fruits in the application greenhouse in the first place, Altınkaya said:
“We are working on fruit saplings such as pitaya, mango, passiflora, guava, papaya, plantain, longan, litchi, carambola, cherimoya, black sapote, mamey sapote, sapodilla, acerola), ice cream bean, macadamia nut, tamarin. There are some different species that we expect to be successfully produced. We will try the species under the supervision of farmers. We will carry out demonstration studies (first production, demonstration and training activities for the spread of new species in the region) on a total of 70 decares of land in the western districts of Antalya, Kumluca, Finike, Demre and Kaş. We started on an area of 20 decares. We want to produce controlled, high quality, tropical fruit species with very good aroma and taste in the region."
Altınkaya noted that they will provide training on tropical fruit cultivation to the farmer.
Kumluca Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Fahri Özen stated that they are making efforts to increase the income of the farmers and increase their export income in the western districts of Antalya.
Western Mediterranean Development Agency Investment Support Specialist Çağatay Karaca emphasized that they think that the increase in the agricultural product diversity of the region is important both in terms of food and supply security and will be beneficial in terms of market conditions.

Antalya'nın batı ilçelerinde tropik meyve üretmek için Kumluca'da merkez kuruldu
Batı Antalya Tropik Meyve Üretim ve Yaygınlaştırma Merkezi'nin uygulama serasında mango ve pitayanın aralarında bulunduğu 17 farklı tropik meyvenin adaptasyon çalışmasına başlandı. - Anadolu Ajansı
