Project Launched to Support Agriculture and Rural Areas

Project Launched to Support Agriculture and Rural Areas The first harvest of approximately 2.6 million rosemary plants, which were planted under a project initiated in Kocaeli to support agriculture and rural areas and will be used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and dietary supplement industries, has been completed. Under the "Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Cultivation Project" implemented last year by Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality to increase the income levels of farmers it encourages to grow high-value-added products and to support agricultural development, the first harvest of approximately 2.6 million rosemary plants planted over 1,200 hectares across the province has begun. Metropolitan Mayor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tahir Büyükakın, who participated in the harvest, worked in the fields alongside the women farmers employed in the project. Through the Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Cultivation Project (TABİP), one of Kocaeli's most significant rural development initiatives, support is provided to growers of high-value-added rosemary, medicinal mint and oregano, and stevia (sugar herb).

Economic Input of TRY 80 Million

In Kandıra district alone, 2 million rosemary seedlings were planted, and with a support amount of TRY 6.5 million, the project will provide TRY 28 million in direct contribution to the district economy over 5 years. With multiplier effects, the economic input will reach TRY 80 million. In line with the project conducted by the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mukhtar Affairs Department Agricultural Services Division, agricultural engineers carry out necessary inspections in fields where planting will take place, while also providing advisory services to farmers.

Facility at TÜBİTAK

Under the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Project, with guaranteed purchase by the Metropolitan Municipality, rosemary, medicinal mint and oregano will be cultivated for use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and dietary supplement industries. Product development work between the Metropolitan Municipality and TÜBİTAK MAM continues. Through a 15-year cooperation agreement between Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality and TÜBİTAK, an extraction facility was established in a 1,000-square-meter enclosed area at Gebze TÜBİTAK MAM to obtain oils from aromatic plants. The extraction facility, established with an investment of approximately TRY 8 million and featuring entirely domestic technology, is among the highest production capacity facilities in Turkey. Using advanced supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technology, high-purity products will be obtained.

Foundation Laid for Facility on 45-Hectare Site

The foundation was laid for a distillation facility planned to be built by the Metropolitan Municipality on a 45-hectare site on the Başiskele district Kullar road next to the İzmit Fruit and Vegetable Market Directorate. The total investment cost of the facility is estimated at approximately TRY 20 million. The Metropolitan Municipality, which is undertaking initiatives for the establishment of an Oil Exchange in Kocaeli, had previously signed a protocol with TÜBİTAK MAM for pharmaceutical, cosmetics and dietary supplement production at a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Source