Kadir Huseyin Okyay (56), started carnation production in the greenhouse he founded in the Denizli Acipayam district, despite naysayers. The grower managed to start exporting in the first year to the Netherlands, the country with the highest flower production in Europe.
Okyay, who turned to carnation production with the advice of his friend, brought the first seedlings to the soil in January, then grew 5 different types of carnations in the greenhouse he established on a 4 decare land.
Okyay produced 5 different types of carnations and exported its flowers, which cost 50 cents each, to the Netherlands and Russia. Okyay: "I have an entrepreneurial spirit. Those who say, 'You can't do it,' envy me now. They also think of producing carnations. I have always been open to different ideas. Without risk, there is no success.
We aim to produce 850,000 stems annually. We export our flowers to the Netherlands and Russia. The Netherlands is the flower center of Europe. We have exported 450,000 carnations to the Netherlands and 220,000 to Russia. If we can sell carnations to the Netherlands, this is a great success. We are proud of this. We contribute to our country by exporting. Instead of always producing the same products, we should turn to alternatives. We pioneered. In a few years, this place could be a carnation production region."
Source: Gunes
Image source: Dreamstime