Turkish flower fragrances bloom in European nations

Istanbul: Turkey has been emerging as a new hub in the floriculture sector. Here more than 3,500 plant species are cultivated to export them across the world. Currently, several varieties of flowers, such as vibrant cut flowers, lush indoor and outdoor plants, flower bulbs, seedlings, saplings, and mosses, are being grown extensively in this country.

Ismail Yılmaz, chairman of the Turkish Ornamental Plants and Products Exporters’ Association, said that the sector’s green thumb extends across 6,000 hectares nationwide. Of this, 1,200 hectares are dedicated to cut flower production, while 300 to 400 hectares nurture outdoor plants. “Carnations are our crown jewel, thriving on 700 hectares,” Yilmaz said, highlighting Antalya’s role as the country’s carnation export powerhouse. “We’re seeing growing demand for outdoor products in Turkic nations and Gulf countries,” Yılmaz added, pointing to an expanding market.

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Cultivation in large parts of land doesn’t reveal the growth of the industry. The important thing is that the floriculture industry has created a huge number of job opportunities. Overall, more than 60,000 people are being directly employed. However, after the consideration of supply chain, this number is likely to go to an impressive 300,000 workers.

Flower exports from Turkey have seen a 2 percent boost compared to 2023. “The Netherlands remains our primary market, with the U.K. following closely in flower sales,” Yılmaz explained. Besides this, Turkish flowers are in great demand in several European nations like Germany, Romania, and Bulgaria. The country’s reach has gone beyond the continent.