The largest collective greenhouse area in Eastern Anatolia will be established in Erzincan, led by the Governor's Office. It will be coordinated by the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry and jointly implemented by the Erzincan Municipality and the Provincial Special Administration.
In the city, 32 investors have built greenhouses on 35 hectares, of which 95% are finished. Once the project is finished, there will be production in the greenhouses for 9 months, offering seasonal work to about 700 individuals. Alper Kocaker, the Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, stated that the completion of the Collective Greenhouse Area Project will provide the Eastern Anatolia Region with 35 hectares of greenhouse area.
Kocaker stated that the project is 95% complete and added, "The project involves the establishment of 32 greenhouses by 32 investors. The combined area of these 32 greenhouses will amount to 35 hectares. Construction of our greenhouses is in progress, and 24 of our investors have already begun their greenhouse investments. It is mostly finished. In some of the finished greenhouses, the first plantings of autumn have actually been carried out. In the greenhouse we are currently in, lettuce has been planted. We hope to harvest these lettuces from our greenhouse in 1.5 to 2 months."
Kocaker remarked on the collective greenhouse area's expected substantial impact on regional employment, noting, "Upon project completion, there are plans to employ 700 workers throughout the season. We anticipate that the economic activity will yield approximately 9 million USD annually for our province. For 9 months of the year, production will occur in our greenhouses. We intend to execute this production in two phases: summer and autumn."
Kocaker stated that they will begin producing cut flowers as well, saying, "We intend to initiate cut flower production in our Eastern Anatolia region. In these greenhouses, this will be attempted for the first time in our province."
Kocaker pointed out that the quantity of greenhouses in the area is on the rise every day, stating: "Over the past five years, we have expanded our greenhouse area from 9 to 60 hectares. Upon finishing the Erzincan Collective Greenhouse Area Project, we will reach 95 hectares. We also have other projects in progress. Upon finishing these, the greenhouse area in Erzincan will total 140 hectares. In this way, Erzincan will become the leading city in Eastern Anatolia regarding greenhouse area. Additionally, it will bolster and sustain the city's preeminent role in the production of vegetables."
Source: Milliyet
