Turkey tops the European countries in terms of greenhouses with 77.200 hectares and generates a revenue of 2 billion USD from these greenhouses annually. The average organization size doubled in the last decade from 0.2 hectares to 0.4 hectares and Turkey shares the 3rd place with Spain in the world in terms of greenhouse area. China tops the world rankings with 2.7 million hectares of greenhouses followed by South Korea. 46 % of the greenhouses in Turkey are from plastic. 24 % of the greenhouses are low tunnel greenhouses whereas 17 % are high tunnel greenhouses. Only 13 % of the greenhouses are made from glass.
According to the stats from receiving from Turkish Statistical Institute, 7.5 million tons of vegetables, 535.000 tons of fruits and 1.2 billion ornamental plants and cut flowers are grown in greenhouses in Turkey. Antalya is the leader in greenhouse production with 3.8 billion products, responsible by itself for 47 % of Turkey’s all greenhouse production. Mersin is ranked 2nd with 1.6 million products and 20 % share followed by Adana with 12 % share and Mugla with 8 % share. These 4 cities combined make up nearly 87 % of the greenhouse production in Turkey.
48 % of the greenhouses in Turkey grow tomatoes whereas 14 % of them grow cucumber. These are followed by watermelon which was grown in 11 % of the greenhouses and green pepper with 9 %. Eggplants and bananas are grown in 4 % of the greenhouses each. Zucchini, watermelon, and strawberry follow these products with 3 % and 2 % shares respectively.
The growers who grow product in compliance with the Greenhouse Registration System Regulations are eligible to apply to state bank Ziraat Bank for a maximum loan of 4.5 million USD with a 25% to 75 % discounted interest rate. Additionally, any investor which is willing to invest 10 million USD in building high-tech and geothermal greenhouses and commits to employing at least 10 people for the next 10 years are allowed to use Treasury lands.
Source: A Haber