Lavender harvest begins in the Scent Valley

The Scent Valley Project, implemented by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality in Yerkesik Yeniköy, supports medicinal and aromatic plant production while opening new income avenues for women producers.

The Agricultural Services Department of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality continues its projects aimed at producers to increase plant production, improve production quality, and support sustainable rural development. Within this scope, the Scent Valley Project, launched on land owned by the Metropolitan Municipality in Yerkesik Yeniköy, continues to grow thanks to the efforts of female producers who are members of the S.S. Yerkesik Agricultural Development Cooperative.

Lavender production provides economic contribution to women

With the Scent Valley Project, the production of medicinal and aromatic plants, especially lavender, is supported, enabling women producers to earn economic income. At the same time, the colorful lavender fields have become an important visiting point for citizens who want to spend time immersed in nature.

Within the cooperative, value-added products such as soap, cologne, shampoo, and similar are produced especially using lavender. Thus, agricultural production is not limited to raw materials alone but is processed into products with increased economic value.

Distillation facility adds value

The Distillation Facility established by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality offers significant support to producers by enabling the extraction of essential oils from medicinal and aromatic plants. Producers who previously struggled to produce on their own or to process plants collected from nature can now process their products at the facility and transform them into higher added-value products.

Essential oils obtained from plants such as lavender, thyme, and sage are used in soap, shampoo, cologne, and cosmetic products, creating economic value both in the domestic market and in exports. Thus, local production is supported, contributing significantly to rural development.

Harvest will start with the Lavender Festival

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality will bring producers and citizens together with the Lavender Festival to be held soon in the Scent Valley. During the festival, lavender harvesting will take place, and visitors will have the opportunity to see the production process up close and spend time in the lavender gardens.

Mayor Aras: "We transform our producers' labor into added value"

Ahmet Aras, Chairman of the Coastal Municipalities Union and Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, stated that rural development is possible through strengthening producers and said: "We continue to support every citizen producing in Muğla's fertile lands. With our Scent Valley Project, we transform the labor of our women producers into products with high added value and support rural development. Thanks to our Distillation Facility, our producers not only grow products but also process them to earn more income. Products obtained from medicinal and aromatic plants like lavender, thyme, and sage are appreciated both in our country and in international markets. We will continue to strengthen this chain extending from production to marketing and support our cooperatives and producers."