Increasing Potato Yields in the Black Sea Region of Turkey

Abstract

The Black Sea region is separated into the western, middle and eastern sub-regions on the basis of climatic and geographical features. The potato is one of the most important food for western and eastern Black Sea people, and cultivation is more common in those two regions. There is an intensive commercial production of certified varieties in the western Black Sea region. However, in the eastern Black Sea region either certified varieties or uncertified local clones are cultivated, primarily for home consumption. In this study, the preference for local uncertified clones and the reasons for low yield were investigated in the eastern Black Sea region. Uncertified clones were preferred because consumers believed they had more flavours. Low yield was found to be a result of the use of uncertified clones and poor management practices.