Aydin Takes First Place in Organic Farming

Aydin takes first place in organic farming. Aydin ranks first in the number of producer organizations and farmers, including those in transition, second in production volume, and fourth in the number of producer organizations and farmers in Good Agricultural Practices. The Aegean province has recently pushed its organic-farming results further up the rankings.

Aydin is among the 14 provinces authorized by the ministry for fresh fruit and vegetable exports to Russia. It is also among the 31 provinces authorized by the ministry for dry-fruit exports to the European Union on mycotoxin compliance. This helps explain the rising interest in organic farming in the province, while state incentives and support steer producer organizations and farmers toward Good Agricultural Practices.

5,709 Farmers in Organic Agriculture

Awareness of both production and consumption is high in Aydin when it comes to organic farming and Good Agricultural Practices. Both Good Agricultural Practices and organic farming need strong support for producer organizations and farmers, and clearer market access is just as important.

Aydin leads Turkey in olive, fig, and chestnut production. Organic farming covers 34,077 hectares in the province, where 5,709 registered producer organizations and farmers work in organic production. According to the most recent provincial data, 132,824 tons of organic products are produced each year.

We Care About Broader Adoption

Special incentives for organic farming and Good Agricultural Practices are being provided to make farming more productive, and it is encouraging that Aydin's farmers have moved into organic production and taken the lead in this field. Incentives have been offered to farmers in Aydin. We want organic farming and Good Agricultural Practices to become more widespread in Aydin. We are also ready to work with the central government, local authorities, and NGOs to support the sale of these organic products, and we stand behind any assistance that is provided, the speaker said.

No Branding, No Economic Gain

Being number one in organic-farming production is a source of pride, but the province falls short when it comes to selling its products. Every minute, every second lost in building the province into a brand city is a negative on the economic ledger. You can produce well, but without good packaging, advertising, and marketing, and without a full brand identity around all these factors, there will be no economic gain. This needs to be coordinated among all of us and resolved urgently through public support and the active involvement of provincial bodies, the speaker said.