Within the scope of the project implemented to protect the galanthus varieties in the nature in Akseki district of Antalya, 20,000 snowdrop bulbs were planted on an area of 4 decares in 2016. The production now reached 2 million with new production plots. Since the galanthus bulbs, which are used as an ornamental plant, is used in the cosmetics industry as well as in the production of flower and polio vaccine, it is exported by some exporting companies to European countries, including the Netherlands and Germany, with the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture. The company representative Mehmet Oguz said that they obtained permission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to produce and export galanthus onions on their own land.
Mehmet Oguz: "In the first year, we created 30,000 galanthus production plots on one decare of land. In the second year, we took the offspring and created new rootstock plots, and continued production. In other words, until the harvest in May and June of this year, we will achieve a number of 4 million galanthus bulbs and seeds.
The produced bulbs will be exported. In this way, galanthus' varieties in nature will not be collected from the living areas, the bulbs removed from the production plots will be exported. The aim of the study is to make an economic contribution to the region and to protect the existence of the galanthus generation in nature. The removal of the galanthus bulbs in Akseki this year is prohibited. The Ministry of Agriculture takes very serious measures on endemic ornamental plants. It wants the galanthus to be produced and sold. We will grow it on our own lands and contribute to the country's economy. About 25-30 offsprings occur in the roots of the bulb. We separate the ones that will go for export and form reproduction plots of their offspring."
Source: Beyaz Gazete