The Izmir Balcony and Garden Plants Festival, organized by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality for the first time this year, has begun. 25 thousand vegetable seedlings were distributed to citizens free of charge at the festival, which brought together producers and consumers.
The Izmir Metropolitan Municipality organized the 1st Izmir Balcony and Garden Plants Festival to popularize balcony gardening and urban agriculture. The opening of the festival, which will strengthen Izmir's smokeless industry and ornamental plants sector, was the scene of colorful scenes at Kültürpark. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council Member Elvin Sönmez Güler, who attended the opening ceremony of the festival, which will continue until June 15, on behalf of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, emphasized that the main goal of the festival is to bring producers together with the public and to ensure that citizens have a pleasant weekend both in touch with nature and with their families. Elvin Sönmez Güler said, “We want to be instrumental in creating small agricultural areas on balconies, terraces and in front of windows for everyone who has no contact with the soil, especially our children growing up in apartment buildings. We will experience the joy of producing our own food and teach our children this process by experiencing it. We know very well the value of production, labor and harmony with nature in Izmir.”
“The value we give to the labor of our producers will also grow”
Güler, who stated that they wanted to turn balcony gardening into a lifestyle by encouraging agriculture within the city and that this festival would be one of the most concrete steps of this vision, said: “The value we give to the labor of our producers will also increase along with the flowers at the festival. We are shortening the distance between the producer and the consumer and aiming to create a more economical and sustainable shopping model. We aim to make the ornamental plant production sector, which is the smokeless industry of İzmir, a locomotive in the development of our city by further increasing its employment and income potential. For this, we support our producers as much as we can. We make significant contributions to the sector.”
“Ensuring the continuity of agriculture is extremely important”
Hurşit Nallı, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ödemiş Bademli Fidancılık Agricultural Development Cooperative, also touched on the importance of agriculture. Nallı said, “Agriculture has been the most important source of income since the beginning of human history. The high level of uncertainty and risks in the agricultural sector causes producers and investors to worry. This leads to the development of a false idea that the first step of development is to reduce agricultural activities. These concerns can be resolved through correct agricultural policies to be prepared regionally. In fact, agriculture is one of the indispensable sectors of both today and the future. Ensuring the continuity of agriculture is extremely important, especially due to the climate crisis.”
“We show that it is possible to produce and grow together”
Bayındır Flower Producers Agricultural Development Cooperative (Bayçikoop) President Kadir İrdem said that the festival organized under the leadership of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality is a valuable gathering that makes the labor of the producer visible, encourages living in harmony with nature and ensures local development. İrdem said, “Each of our members grow not only plants but also hope on their balconies, greenhouses and gardens. I would like to express my gratitude to the valuable Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Mr. Cemil Tugay. The support given by the Metropolitan Municipality to agriculture, producers and cooperativism has enabled us to survive, grow and come to this point today.”
Producers are happy with the festival
Ebru Özdemir, one of the producers, stated that the festival will provide important gains for İzmir and said, “We come from Bayındır. It is not easy for the public to come there. Therefore, it is very advantageous for us to exhibit our products here. This year, we prefer plants such as cactus and shrubs that require less water due to global warming.”
Cactus recommendation to the consumer
A producer named Hamza Coşkuner also advised consumers to buy cactus, saying: “Cactus is a beautiful plant in every way. It is both easy to care for and elegant. It can make you happy even if you don’t take care of it. But the others dry up if you don’t water them for a day.”
Producer Mehmet Zeytin from Bayındır said that such a festival is very important for both producers and citizens.
The festival brought together ornamental plant producers, cooperatives and local producers directly with consumers, and 25 thousand vegetable seedlings were distributed to citizens free of charge. The festival will be open from 14:15 to 10.00:23.00 on June XNUMX-XNUMX.
