THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality laid the foundation of the world’s number one and Turkey’s largest Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Production and Processing Facility. In the facility, which covers an area of 42 decares, essential oils will be obtained by water vapour method, agricultural products with high added value will be planted and these products will be used in the pharmaceutical, supplementary food and cosmetics sectors. The facility, where a large amount of economic input will be provided to the Kocaeli farmers, will be a kind of medicine for Turkey.
“OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE IS MORE EARNINGS FOR OUR FARMERS”
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Assoc. Dr. Tahir Büyükakın said, “In this project, we are trying to increase the added value of our farmer’s activities. This is our main goal. We worked on what our farmer would plant and produce apart from the products produced by the standard team. And we wanted to be organized from the beginning to the end of the product chain. And thus, we aimed to increase the added value of the intermediate process as well. At this point medicinal and aromatic plants appeared.”
“WE WILL INCREASE OUR SHARE IN THE WORLD”
Pointing out that in terms of medicinal and aromatic plants, Turkey has an export of 40 million dollars and an import of 50 million, Dr. Büyükakın added, “Our place in the world is actually below what it should be. By establishing these facilities, we will have a chance to pay our farmer higher wages. We also set an example for private sector initiatives. When these are completed, an area for the processing of new crops will also be opened. The process will come to a very important point with the purchase guarantee, the oil exchange and their meeting with the industry.”
