Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi
Lapseki Meslek Yüksekokulu
Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi
Lapseki Meslek Yüksekokulu
Definition: The Seedling Production Program is a program that provides education and training on the production, cultivation, and maintenance techniques, as well as applications of fruit, vineyard, and ornamental plants, which have a long cultivation period, along with the characteristics and maintenance methods of cultivated varieties of fruits, vines, and ornamental plants based on today's knowledge and experience.
Objective: Turkey is an important country for fruit growing and horticulture due to its geographical location and ecological conditions. It is also the homeland of many fruits. In recent years, commercial plantations of modern fruit and vineyards have become widespread, increasing the demand for healthy and high-quality fruit and grapevines. To protect our producers, certified seedling production has become mandatory in line with our country's policies. This necessitates the training of qualified technical staff who will make healthy plans for the production and distribution of quality and certified seedlings. Therefore, the aim is to train individuals who are knowledgeable about fruit, vineyard, and ornamental plant production, experienced in maintenance work, can pass on the culture of fruit growing and seedling production, and can look at the sector from different perspectives.
In recent years, investments in commercial fruit orchards have increased due to the establishment of fruit orchards in areas that have lost their forest characteristics, the increasing interest in exotic fruit production due to changing climate conditions, and the support of young entrepreneurs who have received education in the field by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Moreover, commercial fruit growing is becoming increasingly common in Middle Eastern countries, Russia, and Turkish Republics, which have high market potential for fruit seedlings. These developments have increased the demand for qualified fruit seedlings, boosting seedling production in Turkey, which is reported to have increased 30 times in the last 15 years.
The Chairman of the Seedling Producers Sub-Union (FÜAB) Management Board, Hurşit Nallı, stated that Turkey, which used to import seedlings from European countries 10 years ago, is now in a position to export seedlings to those countries. He said, "We aim to achieve more than $100 million in exports in the nursery sector in 2023."
Çanakkale, with its suitable climate and soil structure for the growth of many agricultural products, has 32,214 hectares of olive groves, 18,155 hectares of fruit orchards, and 4,743 hectares of vineyards. The Lapseki district, where our school is located, is one of the leading districts in our province where modern fruit and seedling production is carried out. In addition to Lapseki, we have coordinated relationships with 5 seedling producers registered with FÜAB within the borders of our district. In addition, Anadolu Etap company, which operates in our province, offers internship and job opportunities. There are 7,000 m2 of practice area at our school, and there are practical opportunities for hard and soft-shell species, which are the most cultivated in our region. In addition, our department has lesson topics such as dwarf fruit growing, tissue culture (micropropagation), and special production techniques. In addition to 1 doctorate lecturer in our department staff, many expert and experienced lecturers in their field working in other departments also support the program.
The Seedling Production program aims to train students to have theoretical and practical knowledge about seedling production. They will become qualified technical staff who can meet the needs of the public and the private sector. Graduates can work in public institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, private nursery businesses, and seedling production cooperatives. Graduates have the advantage of working as technicians in the public sector and also meeting the criteria to become "Forest Conservation Officers." With their diplomas, they can establish their private nurseries in the private sector. In addition to these options, graduates can obtain the Agricultural Consulting and Extension Certificate by passing the exams conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Students who want to continue their academic education can transfer to undergraduate programs such as Garden Plants and Field Crops, as stated in the 2020 DGS preference guide.
Objective: The goal is to improve the quality level of local nursery production in Turkey, reduce external dependency, and reduce the risks of fruit growing investments that provide returns in the long term.
Degrees Obtained: Students who successfully complete this two-year program receive an associate degree and are granted the title of "Agricultural Technician."
Competencies of Students: Students who successfully complete the Seedling Production Associate Degree Program will have the following knowledge, skills, and competencies:
Graduate Programs: