Sapanca, Sakarya – The 3rd PSB Anatolia International Landscape, Ornamental Plants, Gardening Arts, and Equipment Fair recently took place in Sapanca, Sakarya, spanning an impressive 60,000 square meters at the Kirkpinar location. The fair, featuring 240 companies and 24 municipalities, received significant attention from attendees and industry enthusiasts, running until September 9.
Savas Akcan, President of the Turkish Seed Growers Association and the Turkish Ornamental Plants Association, underscored the sector’s potential for further growth, emphasizing the pivotal role of state support in driving exports to new heights. Akcan stated, “With concerted efforts, we achieved exports of $137 million in 2022. We have the potential to become a global leader in this industry.”
The ornamental plants sector, until recently, was predominantly reliant on imports. However, substantial efforts have transformed the industry, with exports reaching $137 million in 2022 while imports stood at $40 million. Exports of ornamental plants have gained momentum, extending to Turkish Republics, Europe, and Gulf countries. Key production regions contributing to exports include Antalya, the Mediterranean coastline, Izmir, the Aegean coastline, as well as Sakarya and Yalova regions.
Turkey’s geographical and climatic advantages make it an ideal location for ornamental plant cultivation. Coupled with a young population and a favorable geopolitical structure, the country is poised for industry leadership. With a sector volume of $2 billion and a 6% share in exports, the goal is to raise this share to 30-40%.
Akcan emphasized the unique challenges faced by the ornamental plant sector compared to other agricultural sectors. Ornamental plant production cycles can extend to a year or more, with some products having a lifespan of 5-6 years, resulting in significant input costs. Akcan called for greater state support to address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of agricultural loans tailored to the sector’s specific needs.
One significant distinction in the ornamental plant sector is the imposition of a 20% value-added tax, which is not applicable to other crop production. Akcan stressed the importance of state support to facilitate the marketing of Turkish products in global markets, thereby boosting foreign currency inflows into the country. With appropriate support, Turkish growers have demonstrated their ability to succeed and compete effectively with foreign counterparts, as evidenced by $126 million in exports against $40 million in imports.
Akcan concluded, “We have shown that we can succeed and compete with foreign growers, even under challenging conditions. Imagine the potential if we receive adequate support from the state to further increase our exports.”