In Tokat's Erbaa area, 85 farmers are currently growing 20 types of cut flowers in about 60 hectares of greenhouses on public lands that were formerly used for cattle cultivation. All these harvested flowers are sent 3 days a week to 18 provinces. Cut flower production creates 2,500 jobs for the people in the region. The city is located in the Black Sea region, where cut flower production is quite scarce.
Public fields that had long been utilized for animal grazing have been converted into contemporary greenhouses in the district center of Yenimahalle, which is now a hub for the production of cut flowers.
In 2022, locals and growers with prior floriculture expertise in Antalya started producing in the area as part of rural development programs, thanks to the initiative of Tokat officials. There are about 85 farmers who grow cut flowers on 7 hectares of outdoor land and 53 hectares of indoor land. On each half-hectare of land, each farmer runs a family-run enterprise. The flowers grown here are sold at auction in 18 auction houses across Turkey. Three days a week, regular shipments are made to ensure a consistent supply flow to the marketplace.
The purpose of the flower greenhouses, according to Arif Yilmaz Koksal, president of the Erbaa Chamber of Agriculture, is to allow the people of the district to make a living by operating family businesses on their own property.
"This is the greenhouse area in Erbaa Yenimahalle," he remarked. "Treasury land once covered this area. Here, animals grazed. The Gokal region's residents, who had previously grown flowers in Antalya, as well as those who worked there daily, considered this a suitable location at the governor's and district governors' advice. Projects for rural development were carried out in these regions. About 85 of our farmers became involved in the project in 2022, growing cut flowers on 53 hectares of indoor land, 4 to 5.000 square meters for each individual. Additionally, they also use 7 hectares of open field for more cut flowers. The objective is to use family-run companies to give our region's residents a means of income. Even while they might not make a lot of money, they are at least making ends meet. They take care of their requirements. Additionally, they have about 2,500 daily-wage employees in our district."
"With the help of bureaucrats and the Ministry of Agriculture, cut flower production, which started in Erbaa in the 2000s, has reached even greater levels in 2022," stated grower Omer Demir. "This benefits our area as well. About 3,000 families earn their living through cut flower production. The flowers we grow here reach the market through the auction houses. Through cut flower production, people contribute to their household economy. There are many different kinds of flowers in Erbaa. Today, there are about 20 varieties, such as gypsophila, gladiolus, lisianthus, and gerberas, and this will surely grow even more in the future."
Source: IHA
