Recent research indicates both qualitative and quantitative improvements in fruit farming throughout the country. According to TÜİK 2024 data, regions dedicated to fruit cultivation now cover approximately 3.8 million hectares, representing about 16% of the total agricultural land in our country. In addition to small and medium-sized enterprises that characterize the national profile, larger or macro-scale businesses have begun to emerge in numerous areas. The implementation of mechanization in fruit production is increasingly essential due to challenges related to labor availability, rising costs, and greater access to technological innovations. At the same time, mechanization is gaining traction due to factors such as export demands, changing consumer preferences, and a tendency towards more professional management.
Given the recent advancements, it can be noted that the fruit cultivation sector in our country is undergoing a transformation. In this context, new areas of application have emerged in recent years, such as garden tractors, pressurized irrigation systems, harvesting methods, pruning techniques, the breakdown of pruning waste, soil cultivation, garden sprayers, early warning systems, post-harvest management, frost protection, smart agricultural technologies, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The effects of these advancements are evident in the machinery manufacturing sector, commercial entities, and scientific research institutions.
The 1st and 2nd Workshops on Fruit Growing Mechanization (MEYMEK) took place in Antalya in 2019 and 2022, with participation from relevant officials, civil society organizations, and private sector representatives, including universities, research institutions, machinery producers, and fruit growers. The final reports indicated that reorganizing the workshop would benefit the sector by considering advancements in fruit cultivation, technology adoption, and improving communication among stakeholders. In this regard, the upcoming third workshop in our country aims to serve as a forum for discussing the current situation, challenges, suggested solutions, future projects, and sharing experiences, ultimately aiming to enhance fruit production in our nation. Given the frost damage observed in fruit-growing regions, particularly this year, the agenda will include discussions on existing practices and innovative technologies for “protecting fruit trees from frost risk” as a newly relevant topic.
The Akdeniz University Faculty of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Machinery and Technologies Engineering will hold a workshop in Antalya on October 15-16, 2025. The workshop agenda will be shaped based on input received from stakeholders.
The workshop’s agenda features presentations, open discussion sessions, and both technical and cultural excursions. Besides researchers from academic institutions and the public sector, the engagement of our manufacturers and producers in the industry, along with their sharing of experiences and perspectives on challenges and potential solutions, will greatly enhance the workshop’s effectiveness. For more information about the workshop, please visit http://meymek.akdeniz.edu.tr/ and feel free to send your feedback and suggestions to meymek@akdeniz.edu.tr.
