Antalya Metropolitan Municipality distributed light traps to combat mushroom fly, which adversely affects the yield and quality of mushrooms in Korkuteli. With the light trap device, loss of mushroom production and pesticide residue will be prevented.

Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Agricultural Services Department continues to support the producer in line with the local development principle of Muhittin Insect. Metropolitan teams, which continue to work for the production of reliable food without pesticide residues, distributed light traps to mushroom growers in Yelten, İmrahor, Sımandır, Uzunoluk and Küçükköy neighborhoods in Korkuteli district.

LIGHTED TRAP AGAINST MUSHROOM PEST

The producers in Korkuteli, which is a leader in mushroom production, were given 80 light traps by the Metropolitan Municipality as part of alternative methods of struggle against pesticide residues. Manufacturers in Yelten, İmrahor, Sımandır, Uzunoluk and Küçükköy neighborhoods were informed about the device.

REDUCE THE USE OF CHEMICALS

Hatice Parlak, Agricultural Engineer at the Department of Agricultural Services, stated that the Metropolitan teams are on the field to promote technical methods that protect nature, producers and consumers and to provide grants, and said: “There are 16 types of pests that are fungi flies and their derivatives. Manufacturers are forced to use chemical pesticides against pests. Drug administration requires both an expensive cost and labor. It is also harmful to the consumer. The light trap device works with the UVA light wave and fights these pests. Producers complete the season by applying very few chemicals. Thus, the product they produce is residue-free and healthy.”

FLY MUSHROOM’S BIGGEST ENEMY

Yücel Köken, who is a mushroom producer in Korkuteli Yelten, said, “I have been a producer for 15 years.
The fly is the fungus’s worst enemy. The fly brings stain to the fungus and the yield decreases. Using drugs also causes great damage to the fungus. The light trap distributed by our Muhittin Insect President will be of great benefit to us. I have installed the trap in my mushroom warehouse and I am starting to use it, thank you very much”.

WE WILL FIGHT WITHOUT MEDICATION

Mushroom producer Adem Kolan stated that the mushroom fly causes serious damage to production and said, “We are struggling with the fly especially during the compost period. We are forced to give medicine. The drug damages the product, and a residue remains on the fungus. By using the light traps distributed by the Metropolitan Municipality, we will be able to protect our products without using drugs.”

Selma Kıllı, who has been growing mushrooms for 13 years, said, “I look after my 4 children by growing mushrooms, it is my livelihood. So I have to produce without loss. But fly and green mold in the fungus are pushing us hard. We have to use drugs, but we can’t buy drugs too expensive. I hope we will get rid of flies by using the light traps sent by our President Muhittin.”

Yelten Neighborhood Headman, Yetiş Özen, said that there are many citizens in their neighborhoods who make a living from mushroom production and said, “The common problem of all of them is mushroom flies. Hopefully, the light trap sent by our Muhittin Insect President will be the solution,” he said.

Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency