Photo:©FAO/Fazıl Düşünceli

Ankara - The Workshop for ''Creating Value Chain Model for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants'' was held by partnership of FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Isparta on 16-17 December 2019.

The workshop attracted broad participation from the government, private sector, farmers' cooperatives, NGO representatives, and farmers.
Making opening remarks, Isparta Mayor Şükrü Başdeğirmen underlined that Isparta makes up 65% of the world's rose oil production, as part of Turkey's medicinal and aromatic plant production. He stated that Turkey is the richest country and Isparta the richest province in this respect.
Isparta Governor Ömer Seymenoğlu pointed out the project's contribution in the welfare of the rural population. He said, “The welfare of rural population is the welfare of the cities. If we want to keep the population in rural areas, we need to ensure that they have a motivation, which would be extra income in addition to agricultural and feedstock production. And we can do that by creating a link between ecology and economy.”
The workshop brought the project stakeholders and sector representatives together, providing a platform to discuss the works conducted as part of the project. Findings of the analysis carried out on the value chain of medicinal and aromatic plant sector were assessed in the workshop. Focus topics were the draft strategies prepared to build competitive capacity of the sector, product value chain model and its contribution to the improvement of regional welfare, and the roles of the sector and stakeholders within the model.
FAO Agricultural Officer Fazıl Düşünceli emphasized that the works conducted in Isparta are aimed at achieving FAO's strategic goals. These goals include ''ensuring food security'', ''ending rural poverty'', and '' strengthening food systems''. He stated that they are open to cooperating with local governments and all relevant stakeholders to reach the goals.
The works for Creating Value Chain Model for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants are particularly aimed at supporting sustainable practices in the production of rose and lavender. The goal is to enhance the sector's competitiveness in global markets, and to improve the quality of life and economic welfare for rural communities, particularly for women farmers. To this end, it is planned to hold trainings for farmers and middle-scale businesses, and support the two women farmers' cooperatives located in Kuyucak and Güneykent districts in 2020 as well.