LAVENDER SCENTED SCHOLARSHIP IS ON ITS WAY

Dünya Newspaper

12.08.2016

Journalist: Mehmet Kaya

The EGET Foundation, following its truffle cultivation, has begun lavender farming. In the coming period, the foundation's farm will also produce lavender honey. The income generated will be given as scholarships to students.

The EGET Foundation, established in Muğla to provide scholarships to students and known for its agricultural enterprises, has created the first lavender field in the coastal region, following its truffle cultivation, which is known as a food for the wealthy. The lavender will now be a source for lavender honey, in addition to Muğla's famous flower honey.

At a time when various ways are being sought to transition to high value-added products in agriculture, the Education, Geriatrics, Ecological Agriculture, Tourism Foundation (EGET Foundation), established in Ula district of Muğla to provide scholarships to students and which has brought its agricultural enterprise to life, has started lavender cultivation after truffle cultivation. Lavender seedlings have been planted in the soil at the Ula Armutçuk agricultural enterprise. EGET, founded by Özlem Uzman and Safai Özer, has issued a scholarship call for the 2016-2017 academic year.

High Value-Added Products for Agriculture

In 2015, the foundation planted truffle-inoculated oak saplings at the Armutçuk Agricultural Enterprise. Following a suggestion from Ula District Agricultural Director Süleyman Kurnaz, lavender was planted among the oak trees to further develop the area. Lavender seedlings are now being produced at the enterprise to meet the region's needs. The foundation will also produce lavender honey in the coming period. The first lavender honey will be available in stores in 2018.

First Production on the Coast

With the planting of lavender, this plant will be cultivated for agricultural purposes for the first time in the coastal region. Lavender will also provide a source for beekeepers to produce lavender honey. EGET, which also started cultivating truffles—a food for the wealthy—by planting truffle-inoculated oak trees in the same area in 2015, will begin harvesting the truffles in 2019.

Following the lavender planting, Safai Özer, Chairman of the EGET Foundation Board of Trustees, made a statement on the matter: “Our foundation will use the income it generates to provide scholarships to students. This is an unchangeable clause in our foundation charter. EGET, as an agricultural enterprise, aims to be a model with the products it produces. We consider offering new options to local farmers in the context of agricultural production diversity as one of our goals. Saying ‘Let the lavender flower support education,’ we planted our first lavender seedlings with dedicated friends who believe in our goals. We have also started selling our surplus Lavandula Super-A type lavender seedlings.” The EGET Foundation, whose primary aim is to provide scholarships to university students facing economic hardship and struggling to afford education, starting in the 2016-2017 academic year, states that establishing economic enterprises to secure funding for the foundation is essential. To this end, the founders purchased land in Armutçuk neighborhood of Ula district and Böbecen area of ​​Menteşe district. The foundation's first agricultural enterprise, Armutçuk Agricultural Enterprise, was established last year in Armutçuk neighborhood of Ula district, Muğla. On 22,000 square meters of land in Armutçuk, the largest truffle production area outside of public ownership was created. Truffles grow on the roots of oak trees and are among the world's most expensive foods. Lavender seedlings were planted among the truffle-inoculated oak saplings, which will yield their first crop in 2019. The foundation is continuing its efforts to complete the legal procedures for establishing a nature-friendly, healthy lifestyle tourism business in the Böbecen region of Menteşe district, Muğla.