XXVth International Horticultural Congress, Brussels, Belgium, 2 - 07 August 1998, pp.81-88
Horticultural production is very important for Turkey regarding both domestic consumption and exports. A review of Turkish agricultural history shows that dramatic changes have occurred in the horticulture industry. It seems evident that changes will continue for the next years. Especially developments of Antalya's horticulture industry provide good example for Turkish horticultural industry. Turkey has a great potential to expand output in the horticultural industry. Approximately 12.5 % of total cultivated land was devoted to produce horticultural crops The volume of production of fruit and vegetables are about 33 million tons in 1996. Domestic consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables is 356 kg per capita. The production quantity of the most horticultural crops is enough for domestic consumption and export. However, export/production ratio is considerably low in almost most of the horticultural crops. This ratio for fresh fruit and vegetables was 3.23 % in 1996. Turkish horticultural sector encounters very serious limitations in marketing of the products. Growers are faced to serious problems in the horticultural industry due to lack of growers' organisations, standardisation, packing, storage and transportation facilities. Marketing will be more important than that of earlier years because the World Trade Agreements will bring both advantage and disadvantages for the industry. In order to facilitate effective responsiveness to changing markets and other conditions, strategic planning is needed by horticultural industry including the individual firm and industry organisations. This is necessary if Turkey wants to take more share from the total world trade and use its potential advantages.