The 3rd PSB Anatolia International Landscape, Ornamental Plants, Gardening Arts, and Equipment Fair took place in the Sapanca district of Sakarya. At the fair held on an area of 60,000 square meters in Sapanca Kirkpinar location, 240 companies and 24 municipalities exhibited their products. The fair, which lasted until September 9, attracted great interest.
Savas Akcan, the President of the Turkish Seed Growers Association and also the President of the Turkish Ornamental Plants Association, stated that exports would increase further if the state provided serious support to the sector and said, "As a result of serious efforts, we exported 137 million dollars in 2022. We can be a world leader in the industry.
The ornamental plants sector was an import-oriented sector until 3-4 years ago. As a result of serious efforts, when we look at the 2022 data, we exported 137 million dollars and imported 40 million dollars. We have serious ornamental plant exports to the Turkish Republics, Europe, and the Gulf countries. Our country's Antalya region, Mediterranean coastline, Izmir region, Aegean coastline, and Sakarya and Yalova regions are the main production sources of our exports.
First of all, we live in a very suitable geography as ornamental plant producers due to the geographical and climatic structure of our country. If you compare it to Europe, we have a young population. Our geopolitical structure is very suitable for development. We believe that we will be a global leader in this field. This sector has a volume of 2 billion dollars. Our share in exports is 6%. We want to increase this to 30-40%.
Now, the ornamental plant sector has an important issue that distinguishes it from other sectors within agriculture. For example, a farmer brother of mine who plants wheat today plants it in October and harvests it in June-July. There is a production period of 7-8 months. But we wait at least a year. And there are products that last 5-6 years. Therefore, we encounter very serious input costs in such a production period. The situation of the country is clear, and the world economy is also clear. Yes, the input costs of agriculture are increasing day by day. But while we are struggling with this, we cannot benefit from agricultural loans as much as we should.
More importantly, we are the only sector in crop production that has a value-added tax of 20%. Agriculture is not a sector that can develop without state support. We must market Turkish products in world markets with peace of mind and successfully bring foreign currency to the country. Support should be given in this regard. If support is given, our growers will be most definitely successful in the global market. We showed that we can succeed and compete with foreign growers. Under such difficult conditions, we exported 126 million dollars against 40 million dollars of imports. Imagine what we could do if we were able to increase our exports even further by receiving some support from the state."
Source: Aydinlik