MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS BECOME A NEW REVENUE FOR DEMİRCİ PEOPLE...

Medicinal and aromatic plants such as hackberry, marshmallow flower and chamomile, which grow in nature in the Demirci district of Manisa province, became a new gateway to the local people.

Demirci is located on the transition route that connects the Aegean to Central Anatolia. It attracts attention with its forests, nature, vegetation and plateaus. Demirci has a unique beauty in every season and the plants grown in nature have recently turned into commercial products.

Harvested in autumn from the trees in the forests surrounding the district, hackberry leaves behind many agricultural products with the income it provides to the local people.

Approximately 500 people, most of them women, are working in the collection of pesticide used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sector.

After collecting the kilogram dried cottages in homes is offered for sale from 10 liras. Some of the product is reserved for coffee and snack.

Approximately 300 tons of hackberry harvested from the region this year, mostly sent to pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies in Istanbul, Ankara and Bursa.

After the spring rains, daisies, which automatically open in the countryside, are brought to the economy with the labour of local women.

The annual average of 2 tons of daisies collected and dried in homes, 35 liras of kilograms are sold to merchants.

Marshmallow flower grown in the region is considered as a source of healing. Marshmallow flowers, which grow on the roadsides and barren fields during the summer, are collected in June and July. About 3 tons of dried marshmallow flowers, traders are marketed 25 liras per kilogram...