150 citrus saplings in Turkey have transformed into 40 million trees in 83 years

150 citrus saplings, which were planted for the first time in Turkey in Antalya in 1938, turned into more than 40 million trees in 83 years. Annual citrus production increased to 5 million tons. Responsible for BATEM citrus breeding and cultivation studies, Dr. Ertuğrul Turgutoğlu said, "There is a total of 1000 decares of production in our gardens belonging to BATEM. We also carry out many studies such as jam, marmalade, bergamot powder, citrus peel oil essences in our pilot production facilities." The first production of citrus fruits, including orange, tangerine, grapefruit and lemon, was made in Antalya. In 1938, 150 saplings brought from Morocco, Israel, Tunisia, Spain, Italy and America were planted in the 200-decare garden of the Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute (BATEM) in Demircikara District. With the successful conclusion of the trial in the BATEM garden, sapling production started. The production of citrus fruits, also called citrus, has spread to ...