CURRENT SITUATION AND MARKETING STRUCTURE OF HERBALISTS AND PROCESSING FIRMS IN MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS SECTOR: THE CASE OF MERSIN PROVINCE IN TURKEY
ARZU SECER *
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Cukurova University, 01330, Sarıcam, Adana, Turkey.
ZOZAN KAYA
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Cukurova University, 01330, Sarıcam, Adana, Turkey.
GIZEM YENER
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Cukurova University, 01330, Sarıcam, Adana, Turkey.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Recently, consumers’ demand has increased in medicinal and aromatic plants. Mersin is one of the most important plant-supplier provinces in Turkey. The study aims to reveal current situation, the marketing structure and the problems of herbalists and processing firms in medicinal and aromatic plants sector in Mersin. Products were presented in wide range to both domestic and foreign markets. The basic problems were lack of organization, information pollution, and lack of consumers’ knowledge in the sector. In order to improve the current troubled situation, there is a need to establish supportive organizations and to control information flow among the relevant parties.
Keywords: Medicinal and aromatic plants, marketing structure, Mersin