Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Market in Hatay Province and Development Opportunities

Abstract

Hatay province has a rich ecosystem that medicinal and aromatic plants grow naturally all across the province. There are about 2.000 flowery plants in the vegetative pattern of the province, and it is around 300 of them are endemic plants. The main purpose of this study was to present the production and processing structure of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) which are commonly traded in the Hatay Province of Turkey. In addition, it was aimed to examine the problems of the sector in the Province, and to bring solutions about those problems. According to the research results: in Hatay Province, MAPs are mostly collected from nature; in terms of local processing enterprises, there are problems about obtaining sufficient raw materials; and spice plants are marketed as semi-processed to the other districts. There is a lack of producer organization of MAPs in the region. In order to improve MAPs industry in the province, it is necessary to establish a MAPs coordination and management unit where all shareholders are represented. It should be focused on: extending MAPs cultivation, providing subsidies for producers and processing enterprises, developing effective marketing and publicity strategies for target markets, and establishing a MAPs research institution.