The selection project of the Prickly Pear, locally known as Babutsa, initiated by the Agricultural Research Institute is continuing.

With the completion of the project, applications will be carried out for the registration of the varieties of prickly pears grown in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

The Babutsa Selection Project, which was initiated to determine the prominent prickly pear types in the TRNC, will be working to register 14 types of prickly pears, two of which are thornless.

Agricultural Engineer Konce Baydar, the coordinator of the Babutsa Selection Project initiated under the Agricultural Research Institute, told the Turkish News Agency TAK that examinations were carried out at 485 points in 194 villages and the general structure of the prickly pear was examined.

Noting that an analysis of the prickly pears were carried out according to international criteria, Baydar noted that the fruit weight, internal weight of the fruit, the peeling of the fruit peel, fruit size and seed hardness were examined during these analyzes.

Explaining that after they have completed all their studies, if all 14 of the 14 prominent types are different, they aim to apply for registration for all the prickly pear types, Baydar said adding that the registration process itself may take up to 2 to 3 years.