07.05.2025 11:01
A total of 2,223 tons of seed potatoes arriving at the Mersin port from abroad were sent back after virus detection during inspections. It was emphasized that Turkey's annual potato production is close to 6 million tons and that consumption is sufficient.
In the last two months, 2,223 tons and 150 kilograms of seed potatoes that arrived at the Mersin port from abroad were returned after different viruses were detected. On the other hand, it was learned that the annual harvest of potatoes, which has increased by 1 million in the last 5 years in Turkey, is approaching 6 million tons and is sufficient for the country.
According to the information received, tons of seed potatoes arrived at the Mersin port via ships over the Mediterranean in the last 2 months. The incoming potatoes were inspected by inspectors from the General Directorate of Food and Control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (plant health control officers). During the inspections, 850 tons of seed potatoes from Scotland, 1,152 tons and 150 kilograms of seed potatoes from four separate shipments from the Netherlands, and 150 tons of potatoes from Germany were found to contain 'Potato leafroll polerovirus' and 'Tobacco rattle tobravirus'. The total of 2,223 tons and 150 kilograms of seed potatoes that were detected were sent back to the countries they came from.
TURKEY IS SELF-SUFFICIENT IN PRODUCTION While the fact that the potatoes coming from abroad tested positive for viruses draws attention, it also raises questions about whether the production amount in Turkey is sufficient. Due to high yields, high nutritional value, ease of digestion, and wide usage areas, potatoes are produced and consumed by almost all countries in the world, and Turkey ranks 15th in this regard. It was learned that the annual harvest of potatoes, which has increased by 1 million in the last 5 years, is approaching 6 million tons. The highest production is carried out in Niğde, with more than 750 thousand tons, followed by Kayseri, Afyonkarahisar, İzmir, Konya, Sivas, Nevşehir, Aksaray, Bitlis, and Adana. Approximately 5 million tons of potatoes are produced in 10 provinces out of the 6 million tons.
It was learned that Turkey's production of potatoes is sufficient for its own needs, with per capita consumption reaching up to 52 kilograms. Due to the adequacy level of the potatoes produced in Turkey being 103.6%, it was stated that a small amount is also exported. It was noted that potatoes coming to Turkey from different countries are generally brought in as seed potatoes, and this amount is expressed to be around 1% of the production.
"WE PRODUCE OUR OWN POTATO SEED" Mehmet Akın Doğan, the President of the Yüreğir Agricultural Chamber in Adana, where potato production is intense, made statements. Doğan said, "We produce our own potato seeds; there is no need for them to come from abroad. We produce most of the seeds, but some seeds come from abroad."
Doğan also pointed out that seed potatoes are produced in many places, including the Central Anatolia Region, stating, "If a new variety has been produced abroad and high yields are obtained from a unit area, it can be brought to our country as long as it is not infected with viruses. Just as the products sent from our country return due to pesticides, these should also not enter our country. If they do, we will face difficulties because they will infect our other products," he expressed.