Growers in Antalya, who are responsible for the majority of Turkey's cut flower production, export flowers to 33 countries in Europe, especially the Netherlands. While carnations make up approximately 80% of the exports, whereas 10% consists of ranunculus and dianthus barbatus, and the remaining 10% are gerbera, solidago, and other flower varieties. Every year, 1 billion stems of cut flowers, including 600 million stems of carnation, provide 165 million dollars of foreign currency inflow to the country's economy. Carnations grown in greenhouses, especially in the Kepez district of the city, are the first product preferred on all special occasions, especially New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Women's Day.
At the sectoral analysis meeting addressing focusing on the problems and solutions of the cut flower sector in Antalya, Antalya Trade Board President Ali Candir said that 90% of the production areas are rented therefore modern systems cannot be installed in these areas and production costs have increased. Candir noted that due to the increase in labor costs, growers are trying to keep the profit rate balanced by planting more frequently.
Stating that Turkey, the world leader in carnation production, has failed in terms of marketing, Candir said, "As Antalya, we meet 80% of the world's carnation needs. Marketing is where we are struggling the most. One thing we cannot do is that we do not have enough experience in acting together in an organized fashion. We do not work in union with each other. We go to the markets as individual growers. We work hard in production, and then with small mistakes in marketing and by acting individually, we compromise ourselves and our prices."
Candir said that the sector should organize itself under the umbrella of foreign trade companies, and growers should export through these companies as a group instead of exporting individually themselves. Candir added that this way, growers can have more negotiation power and also achieve cost reductions in logistics and administrative costs.
Cut flower producer and former Central Anatolian Ornamental Plants and Products Exporters Association President Osman Bagdatlioglu compared the marketing problem to the hazelnut problem in Turkey. Stating that Turkey is the biggest producer of hazelnut production but cannot export the product by creating added value, Bagdatlioglu said, "600 million carnations stems go from Turkey. Unfortunately, we cannot get the required prices in the world. We meet 80% of the need, but the remaining 20% is selling its products at a 40% higher price than us. We cannot control and direct the market. One of the reasons for this is not being able to add other varieties to carnations."
Stating that other countries in the world sell other flowers and ornamental arrangements besides carnations, Bagdatlioglu said, "In the world, these flowers are sold by mixing. Companies are trying to export independently. When there is a surplus of products at once, then it pressures the prices to go down." Bagdatlioglu stated that if state incentives are given for diversifying the production, the number of varieties will increase, and this will help eliminate the marketing problem.
Source: DHA