EGET FOUNDATION SUPPORTS TRUFFLE FARMING

EGET

The EGET Foundation, which has reached the final stage of its establishment process, planted oak saplings infected with black truffle spores in Ula.

The EGET Foundation, whose primary aim is to provide scholarships to high school and university students who have difficulty affording education due to economic hardship, states that they consider establishing economic enterprises essential to create revolving capital for the foundation. The foundation's first agricultural enterprise, located in Ula-Armutçuk Village, planted oak trees grown under the supervision of Assoc. Dr. Aziz Türkoğlu, Director of the Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Truffle Application and Research Center.

In the 20,000 m² enterprise, lavender and lavender honey will also be produced as byproducts alongside truffles.

The planting of the saplings transferred to the field was carried out by those participating in the event. Muğla Member of Parliament Prof. Dr. Nurettin Demir, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Osman Gürün, Muğla Deputy Governor Fethi Özdemir, Menteşe Municipality Deputy Mayor Mehmet Güven, CHP Provincial Chairman Mürsel Alban, Prof. Dr. Gürol Ergin, and Prof. Dr. Tahir Özgü, along with other participants, planted saplings. The event continued with a communal picnic.

The name of the person who planted each sapling was written under it. These names will later be inscribed on plaques that will remain permanently under the trees, and each person who planted a sapling will receive a certificate.

The EGET Foundation Armutçuk Agricultural Enterprise, which will harvest its first truffles in 2019, aims to produce 200 kg of mushrooms annually from 2025 onwards. Black truffles (Tuber melanosporum), which fetch an average of €1000 on world markets, will generate approximately 600,000 TL in annual revenue for the foundation.

EGET Foundation's plans also include establishing tourism businesses focused on organic farming and geriatrics. These businesses, which they have submitted for evaluation within the scope of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality's zoning studies, are planned to be located on an area exceeding 200,000 m².