Agricultural exporters unions in the southern province of Antalya are hoping to continue expansion in 2011 following impressive growth numbers last year.

“Tomato exportation in 2010 increased by 24 percent when compared to the figures in 2009,” said Mustafa Satıcı, head of Union of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, adding that the union would continue to meet the demand in international markets with high-quality agricultural production, reliable packaging and high-tech logistics systems.

Satıcı, who said tomatoes were the province’s most-exported crop last year, made the comments during a press conference last week that also included the heads of two other exporters’ unions.

Antalya’s exports exceeded 512 million dollars in 2010, a 35 percent increase in its potential for exporting fresh fruit and vegetables from the year 2009. This year, the agricultural export value for Antalya has set a targeted goal of 600 million dollars, according to officials

Regarding the pesticide residual found on tomatoes exported to Russia, Satıcı criticized the practices of the Agriculture Ministry, saying it had not stood behind Turkish farmers but rather relied on data provided by Russia instead of Turkish laboratories.  

Ornamental flowers sector skyrocketing over last two years

Among the sectors exceeding the 2010 export targets were the Union of Ornamental Flower Exporters.

Antalya accounts for 80 percent of Turkey’s ornamental flower exports. The sector tallied 56 million dollars in exports last year – equal to 15 percent growth over the previous year – while the target for 2011 is 60 million dollars, officials said.

Osman Bağdatlıoğlu, the union’s head, the ornamental flowers sector’s growth mirrored the growth seen in the construction sector within the Turkish republics.

Among the markets where there have been substantial increases in exports are Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iraq. “We plan to create long-lasting markets in the countries where the construction sector shows similar development by coordination with Turkish contractors,” said Bağdatlıoğlu.

2011 target is 130 million dollars

Although there was a certain decrease in the cotton yield in 2010, the demand for cotton increased, leading some to forecast an increase in cotton prices of up to 30 percent over the coming year.  

Azize Kalkavan, head of the Union of Antalya Textile and Raw Materials Exporters, said they totaled 110 million dollars in exports in 2011 and added that their target for 2011 was 130 million dollars.

Noting that cotton is “white gold” not only for Turkey but for many other countries, Kalkavan said the increase in the cotton demand and the subsequent increase in purchasing prices would have a direct effect on the sales of cotton-based clothing over the following year.  

It is also expected that agricultural producers will tend more toward cotton production in 2011, according to experts. In the 1980s, production went down substantially due to an increase in total costs and a lack of governmental incentives