Turkey is one of the major lentil producing countries in the world with an area of over 700,000 ha next only to India. Lentil accounts for as much as 34% of total legume production. In 2001, the Food Legume Improvement Program of Central Field Crops Research Institute released five lentil varieties.
        The three winter varieties were selected from local landraces whereas the two spring varieties were developed from ICARDA international nurseries. The spring varieties selected from ICARDA germplasm are Meyveci-2000 (FLIP 90-3L a cross between ILL 28 x ILL851) and Ali Dayi (FLIP 84-51l a cross between ILL 883x ILL470). Meyveci-2000 has yellow cotyledon, matures in 93 days and give an average yield of 1.2 tonnes/ha. Ali Dayi is a red lentil which matures in 92 days and an average yield of 1.5 tonnes/ha.