22.10.2026 10:42
Mustafa Demir, who lives in the Melikgazi district of Kayseri, grew 15,000 saffron bulbs using soilless and vertical farming methods in a 16-square-meter indoor area. Demir, who started saffron production after being influenced by an article he read in a Netherlands-based agriculture magazine during his master's studies, aims to at least double his production next year. Demir also aims to expand his production by growing medicinal and aromatic plants such as salep, lavender, thyme, and sage.
Mustafa Demir, who is pursuing a master's degree in the History of Political Thought at Topkapı University, also conducted research in agriculture, a field he had been interested in since childhood. Demir, who followed foreign agriculture magazines during his university years, turned to this plant after reading an article about saffron in the Netherlands-based magazine Biojournaal. Demir, who carried out his first trials in pots at home, later conducted production trials in a 3-decare open field. Demir, who moved his production indoors due to the effect of climatic conditions, grew 15 thousand saffron bulbs this year in a 16-square-meter area in his home garden.
"WE BROKE THE TABOO THAT IT DOES NOT GROW IN CENTRAL ANATOLIA" Mustafa Demir, explaining that he received negative comments from those around him at the beginning of his work, said, "There was a very widespread belief that the saffron plant would not grow in Central Anatolia. We wanted to break these taboos and prove that medicinal and aromatic plants could be grown in this region. We started with saffron and I can say we succeeded. I did not receive education in agriculture, but I conducted research for many years and exchanged information with local and international producers."
"SPECIAL TECHNIQUES ARE REQUIRED" Emphasizing that climatic conditions and production techniques are important in saffron cultivation, Demir stated that in his trials in the open field he carried out studies on harvest and product quality, and then turned to indoor areas to provide more controlled conditions. Stating that indoor production is not merely about installing shelves and a lighting system, Demir said, "It is not possible to achieve yield indoors with a random cultivation method. We maintain different temperature and humidity values during sprouting and harvest periods. In addition, special cultivation techniques need to be applied. This year we tried to show both that agriculture can be done indoors and that medicinal and aromatic plants can be grown in Central Anatolia."
Demir, stating that saffron production in Turkey needs to be increased, said he aimed to increase the number of saffron bulbs from 15 thousand to at least 30 thousand next year, and to further develop production capacity in subsequent years.
"WE WANT TO INCREASE OUR EXPORT CAPACITY" Expressing that he wants to spread saffron production throughout Kayseri and Central Anatolia, Demir drew attention to the importance of producers being supported by public institutions and agricultural organizations. Noting that they expect support from governorships, municipalities, district governorships, development agencies and chambers of agriculture, Demir said, "We think that we can make significant contributions to our country's economy and national agriculture through the production of medicinal and aromatic plants. Our first goal was to spread saffron in Kayseri. Now we want to carry production to our region and increase our export capacity in the coming period. We aim to reach the level of important producing countries such as Iran and Greece."
Demir, who plans to turn to the production of different plants after saffron, stated that he will also work on the cultivation of salep, lavender, thyme and sage. Noting that his research especially on salep production indoors continues, Demir added that he aims to spread the production model to wider areas in the coming years.