Loquat production in Turkey

Turkey is an important world producer of loquat. According to the 2003 statistics, Turkey ranks fourth in world loquat production yielding approximately 12,000 tons (t). Until the last decade, loquat growing was carried out only in isolated home gardens for local consumption. After the economic value of loquat was realized, demand for commercial production rapidly increased. The total production in 1980 (3,000 t) was increased more than four-fold by 2003 and reached about 12,000 t produced from 246,000 trees. In Turkey, Mediterranean region has the most suitable ecological conditions for growing loquat. According to 2003 statistics, 96% of total loquat production of Turkey is from the coastal Mediterranean zone. Within the Mediterranean region, Antalya and Icel provinces are the major producers. In Turkey, loquat is consumed as an early season fresh fruit. The major part of production is consumed within Turkey, but some product is exported mainly to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Russia, Sweden, Germany and other European countries. Introduction and adaptation studies combined with breeding efforts is underway to obtain high yielding cultivars with large, high quality fruits, resistant to diseases (mainly to scab). Improvement in handling and transportation efforts may help solve some of the present problems in loquat production in Turkey. Research must focus on high-density plantings, protected cultivation and dwarf rootstocks.