Solanum

Potato farming is among the fields feeling the impact of climate change most strongly in Greece.

According to Eurostat, potato crops in Greece covered 20,260 hectares in 2000 and are now dangerously close to half that as a result of heat and drought.

Farmers of PDO Naxos potatoes, meanwhile, saw a yield of just 1,800 tons this year from 4,000 in 2023.

The cultivation of the purple potato, greatly popular for its contributions to healthy living and skincare in Europe, has been expanded in the Anatolian lands, with this initiative commenced in the Central Anatolian province of Eskişehir now poising to infuse vibrancy into the local economy in the eastern city of Erzurum.

Production facilities in the northwestern province of Bursa are expected to export 1,400 tons of pepper paste to the Netherlands to achieve an export revenue target of $1 million.

Russia has increased the quota of tomatoes to be imported from Türkiye by 150,000 tons, the local media have reported.

With a decree issued by the Russian Agriculture Ministry, the annual import quota has been raised from 350,000 tons to 500,000 tons.

Russia has increased Türkiye's tomato import quota from a previous 350,000 tons to 500,000 tons, raising hopes among local growers that exports to this country will recover.

Update: In a decision published in the Turkish state gazette, the notification by which the Ministry of Agriculture introduced the restrictions was revoked, which also lifted the ban on tomato exports.

The leading importer of tomatoes from Turkey in 2022 was Romania, where production was delivered for the amount of 65,228 million dollars. It is followed by Ukraine - 45,320 million dollars, and Bulgaria - 38,113 million dollars.

The government has moved to scrutinize export of tinned tomato and tomato paste in a bid to prevent a possible price hike in the domestic market amid rising demand from Europe for Turkish agricultural products.

The Trade Ministry added those products to the list of goods whose export require permission from authorities.

A Turkish farmer has started receiving orders from Italy after he improved the seeds of a region-specific eggplant in the Central Anatolian province of Kırıkkale, making them three times more productive.

Russia has decided to increase its quota imposed on tomato imports from Turkey, the Turkish trade minister said on Jan. 21.

"Quota imposed on our tomato exports by Russia has been increased from 200,000 tons to 250,000 tons," Ruhsar Pekcan tweeted.

The decree will come into force in 10 days, she added.

Russia has been Turkey's top tomato export markets in recent years.