Yumaklı visited the Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute (BATEM) Directorate, inspected the beneficial insect production facility and biological control laboratories at BATEM, and received information about the studies from the authorities.
Yumaklı made a statement after releasing symbolic beneficial insects against citrus pests in the center's garden.
Stating that one of the most important issues of food supply security is herbal production, Yumaklı said that 206 types of herbal production are produced in Turkey. Yumaklı said that the healthy production, efficiency and quality of Türkiye-specific products, which are exported on a large scale to both meet the country's food needs and contribute to the country's economy, pose another challenge.
Stating that pests are one of the most important problems affecting production, especially due to climate change, Yumaklı said: “We see that pests that have never appeared in our country before have affected our crop production very badly recently. We are fighting this fight with more than 40 institutes in different parts of our country in the institutes of the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Development of our Ministry.” he said.
Yumaklı emphasized that although some research institutes carry out research and development studies on pest control, they go beyond and carry out activities to produce the opponents of these pests, that is, beneficial insects.
“We are implementing residual action plans in 15 provinces”
Yumaklı stated that important developments have been achieved recently, especially in the field of biological control:
“There were many issues where we were among the top five in the world in this regard. In particular, the brown skunk in the Black Sea region and many different pests in the Mediterranean represent an important point in our fight in terms of our country's economy, crop production and food supply security.”
Of course, to avoid these pests in crop production, chemical drugs, namely pesticides, are used. If they are not used in the correct dosage or when needed, there is a risk of endangering not only the products manufactured, but also human health through the formation of residues. We are making significant progress in biological control to minimize this use of pesticides.
We are implementing residual action plans in 15 provinces. What does that mean? What product, how much drug is used, in what area is it used? The B recipe, which determines this, will be introduced throughout Türkiye from July. It is currently being implemented in 4 provinces. “We are continuing the fight under the motto of reducing pesticides.”
“These tiny creatures that fight for us minimize the impact of these harmful insects on production.”
Stating that there have been some statements regarding the products exported from Türkiye to many different countries in the world, especially to the European Union, Minister Yumaklı said: “Most of them are notifications from the EU about the return of the products we exported from Türkiye, which we call “RASFF Notification”. These are open and transparent reports. Likewise, we publish not only these reports, but also the follow-up activities we have carried out in the country with their results from time to time.
In this system, our non-compliance rate has decreased by 74 percent over the last 5 years. This is a very important achievement. “I would like to express explicitly that a comprehensive battle is being waged and that we are not working to fight against nature in this sense, but to transform disadvantages into advantages.” he said.
Stating that they have so far provided 2 billion lira in support to producers who prefer biological and biotechnical control, Yumaklı said: “Today we released symbolic beneficial insects against citrus pests, which is one of the best examples of biological control. These tiny creatures that fight for us minimize the impact of these harmful insects on production.” he said.
Stating that all kinds of research and development are being carried out in BATEM, especially related to the region's products, Yumaklı said that work on citrus pests, especially the brown skunk fly, and the Mediterranean fruit fly continues in 10 institutes of the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policy (TAGEM).
Stating that beneficial insects against citrus pests are produced in BATEM, Yumaklı explained that beneficial insects against the pest known as “citrus mealybug” are also produced here.
Yumaklı stated that 4.5 million predatory insects were produced and released into nature. Stating that TAGEM is the general directorate where the ministry's main research and development units come together, Yumaklı pointed out that they are trying to expand this fight both in Turkey and abroad.
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