The carnations harvested in Isparta are now being exported to European countries. This year, the aim is to produce around 300 million carnation stems in an area of 200 hectares in the city.
Carnations are produced in Isparta, which has a strong agricultural infrastructure in Turkey with a wide range of products such as roses, lavender, cherries, and tomatoes. Carnations grown in greenhouses in Deregumu village and Cunur district in the center of Isparta are exported to European countries such as Russia, Germany, and England. About 300 million carnation stems are produced every year in the city in high-altitude plateaus. These carnations produced are sent to foreign markets and contribute to the country's economy.
Carnation grower Murat Arslan, who has been producing carnations in Isparta for 5 years, said: "We produce in our 8.5-hectare greenhouse in Cunur district. We are currently harvesting the carnations we planted in November. We plant carnations in February, March, April and May. We have started to harvest all the carnations we have planted. This year, I plan to harvest around 13 million carnation flowers in our greenhouse." Grower Arslan said that their production volume in terms of stems has increased this year compared to last year and said, "The number of stems we have harvested is higher this year compared to last year. The climatic conditions and the high number of working families and workers have had a positive impact on the production numbers. The number of our workers has also increased this year. The work we do gives us pleasure, and the people we work with create a more collective work environment."
Mustahattin Can Selcuk, president of the Isparta Chamber of Agriculture and the Union of Chambers of Agriculture, said that the goal is to produce 300 million carnation stems in 2,00 hectares of greenhouses in the city this year. Selcuk added, "The harvest of the carnations planted in October and November started in June. The carnations are in high demand both in Europe and in the domestic market. Thereby we are contributing to both the regional economy and the country's economy. I would like to thank everyone who works in these difficult conditions to make a positive contribution to the national economy."
Hatice Cetin, a worker who has been working in the carnation greenhouses for 8 years, said that they start harvesting in the early hours of the morning. Cetin said: "We start cutting at 6 a.m., then we do the processing in the warehouse. After resting for a while during the day, we continue harvesting. Of course, this job has some difficulties, and I am also a housewife. Sometimes I have a hard time because I have to take care of the house and work, but as a woman, I am proud to contribute financially to my household economy." The carnations are cut one by one by greenhouse workers and then moved to the processing facility where they are packaged carefully and made ready for shipment abroad.
Source: IHA