ABSTRACT
Most of the cotton in Turkey has traditionally been produced in the Cukurova and Ege regions. However, increasing irrigation possibilities in Southeast Anatolia have enlarged cotton-producing areas in this region to equal those of Ege and Cukurova. It is suggested that after completion of GAP, an important irrigation project now under construction, cotton-producing areas will increase even more. Today there are few plant protection problems in cotton in the GAP region. The increase in cotton growing areas has not resulted in greater pesticide use. However, an increase in plant protection problems caused by several factors, including misapplication of pesticides and environmental changes, is expected. Farmers in the GAP region, like other farmers in Turkey, tend to use pesticides even when they are not required. Integrated pest management will help keep the use of pesticides to a minimum. In this context, some measures to prevent plant protection problems in cotton in the GAP region are suggested: Introduce crop cultivars resistant to common pests; use irrigation and fertilizer in optimal amounts; do not repeat mistakes made in Cukurova (such as the excessive use of pesticides); improve alternative plant protection techniques against important pests such as pink bollworm and employ visual techniques for farmer training.

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