Turkey expands beneficial‑insect program for citrus farms

In the Kozan district of Adana Province, the regional agriculture office released parasitic insects as part of the Biyotop Project to combat the citrus whitefly. The initiative aims to cut pesticide use, protect the environment and meet EU limits on chemical residues for export.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı announced a broader push to spread biological and biotechnical pest‑control methods across Turkish farming. During a visit to a young‑entrepreneur’s insect‑production facility in Fethiye, Muğla, he highlighted the importance of domestic manufacturing, reduced imports and export potential. Farmer Cengiz Selekoğlu said, “In the past we used chemical pesticides; now, with the project, we can produce without residues, which is crucial for both export and health.”