Pointing out the decrease in the pulses production in his written statement; National Pulses Council President Mahmut Arslan said that Turkey can be a pulses importer in the future because of the narrowing of the plantations. National Pulses Council President Mahmut Arslan made a written statement in order to point out the decrease in the pulses production. Stating that the recent decrease in the pulses production threats the sector; Arslan remarked that the producers in Southeast region which is one of the places pulses are planted the most are heading to the plantation of the products from which they can get more yield with higher premium support as the possibility of irrigated agriculture increases. Arslan continued to his statement as: “While the pulses products are planted in infertile cultivation areas with fewer yields, pulses are replaced with products such as corn, sunflower and cotton in the other cultivation areas. The plantation of red lentil as one of our traditional and best export products should be supported. Narrowing of the pulses cultivation areas may cause Turkey to be an importer in the next 5-10 years. Premium supports should be enhanced for these products. 10 pennies support for the pulses from which 100-150 kg product can be obtained per decare and 5 pennies for the cereal from which 500-600 kg yields can be obtained per decare are given. Although the encouragement for pulses doubles the cereal, the farmers earn more from the cereal plantation. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock should establish the balance considering the pulses as traditional products, make watershed-based support and direct the farmer to plant these products. If the farmers head for other products and get used to plant these, they won’t return again. This would be the end of red lentil that is in demand of the world and one of our best export products; we would become nothing but a self-sufficient country.” THE QUALITY AND AROMA PREFERRED DESPITE OF THE HIGH PRICE Telling that Turkish pulses products have the quality and aroma preferred by European countries and these products are preferred despite the high prices compared to the products of the countries like Canada; Arslan added these: “The number of the countries that can compete with Turkey’s traditional products is very few in the world. Being one of the largest producers in lentil producing in the world, Turkey ranks first in producing the Spanish type chickpea called ‘Kabuli’. Turkish brands are demanded more and more each passing year by especially African and Middle Eastern countries. The sector increases the variety of the products and number of the countries with whom export is made each passing year. Today a good deal of export is made with South Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Angola and Gabon compared to a few years ago when there wasn’t any export with these countries. We export 1552 types of agricultural products to over 180 countries as agriculture sector. We realized a 3.5 % growth rate that is bigger than the Turkish economy with 2.2 % growth rate. Governmental supports, sustainability of the laws passed and protecting the product variety have a great importance in terms of the agriculture sector’s future. With such a high preferability from the entire world Turkish pulses should be protected.”