Pesticide Use in Antalya Driven by Production Volume
· Google Haberler
According to Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry data, Antalya leads Turkey in pesticide consumption, a situation attributed by the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers to the region's high protected cultivation capacity.
Pesticide Use Data in Turkey
The report on provincial-level plant protection product usage based on active ingredients for 2025, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has been released. According to the Ministry's official data, a total of 17,551,001 kilograms/liters of pesticides were consumed across Turkey in 2025. In the provincial rankings, Antalya ranked first with 1,492,349 kilograms/liters of active ingredient usage, followed by Manisa and Adana. Among the preferred chemical types, fungicides accounted for 38.4%, herbicides for 27.4%, and insecticides for 23%.
Difference Between Residue Value and Quantity
Evaluating the announced consumption statistics, Ebru Kaçın, Head of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers (ZMO) Antalya Branch, stated that high usage volume does not create a direct risk. Ebru Kaçın, Head of the ZMO Antalya Branch, made the following statement regarding the issue:
"Antalya's leading position in pesticide use in the Ministry's data does not solely mean that products with residues are grown in the city or that a public health risk has emerged. The relevant statistics do not show MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) values or chemical residue in the product, but only the total amount of pesticide used on a per-area basis. When we look globally, we see that developed agricultural countries like Germany use many times more pesticides than we do. The criterion to be considered here is not the amount of pesticide used, but whether the active substance remaining in the harvested product is below legal and healthy consumption limits."
Impact of Protected Cultivation on Pesticides
Drawing attention to the large scale and strategic importance of Antalya's plant production, Ebru Kaçın stated that the city's leadership in pesticide application rates stems from its production capacity. In her assessment, Ebru Kaçın, Head of the ZMO Antalya Branch, noted:
"As Antalya, we alone account for approximately 40% of Turkey's total protected cultivation, open-field farming, fruit production, and greenhouse cultivation. The fact that our production areas are so extensive, intensive, and spread over almost the entire year naturally pushes the total amount of plant protection products used to the top statistically. Therefore, the high pesticide amount is a direct result of our city's enormous production capacity and protected cultivation presence, rather than a negative picture threatening public health."
Critical Importance of Legal Waiting Period
Emphasizing the vital role of proper management in agricultural pest control, ZMO Antalya Branch Head Ebru Kaçın pointed to the decomposition process of chemicals. Highlighting correct practices, Ebru Kaçın, Head of the ZMO Antalya Branch, stated:
"In agricultural pest control, proper management is more important than the presence of the pesticide. Three fundamental criteria must be strictly adhered to in the use of plant protection products: the pesticide must be applied at the correct dosage, used at the correct time, and the legal waiting period after application must be fully observed. After chemicals are applied to the plant, they enter a process of fragmentation and decomposition that we call 'decomposition.' When the legal waiting period is completed, the active substances decompose and fall below safe levels for consumption, and the residue amount in fruits and vegetables drops below edible safe limits. When this process is managed correctly, there is no risk in consuming the product."
Engineer Supervision Against Unprescribed Spraying
Stating that the main threat encountered in agricultural production is uncontrolled and unqualified interventions, Ebru Kaçın expressed that supervision by agricultural engineers is mandatory. Addressing the drawbacks of lack of supervision, Ebru Kaçın, Head of the ZMO Antalya Branch, issued the following warning:
"The main negative aspect in the process and the primary element that could pose a risk to public health is the application of pesticides by unqualified individuals and without supervision. I always emphasize: even if production is carried out in a small area of 100 square meters, the producer must consult an expert. Only an expert agricultural engineer can determine which product to use against which pest, the correct dosage, and most importantly, the waiting period before harvest. The use of pesticides outside the control and technical consultancy of agricultural engineers constitutes a very serious problem for agricultural production, soil health, and food security."