Turkey

Turkey is a major part of the West Asia Centre of crop domestication, evolution and diversity. The transitional zone adjacent to the Aegean and central Anatolian region has been selected as one site of research within the in situ project. This region has retained traditional farming methods to a much higher degree than the intensively cultivated (irrigated) coastal zone or the Anatolian plateau. In this area, the farm population is fully integrated into the national economy and culture of Turkey. This region includes three agroclimatic zones, including valley bottom land, where farmers often grow both modern and local cultivars. Crops selected for the project include chickpea (Cicer aeritinum) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum).