25.02.2026 18:03
In Nevşehir, entrepreneur Gürkan İzgi produces approximately 60 tons of cultivated mushrooms per month at a facility he established with a 55% grant support from the government. At 35 years old, İzgi, who left his job as an English teacher, contributes to the economy and employment by distributing the cultivated mushrooms to chain supermarkets operating nationwide.
Gürkan İzgi, 35 years old, applied for the grant support program of the Agricultural and Rural Development Support Institution (TKDK) upon the recommendation of a friend in Nevşehir. He has left his English teaching job, which he held for 4 years, and is contributing to the economy and employment at the facility he established in 2021 in Sofular village, connected to the Ürgüp district.
EMPLOYING 35 PEOPLE, SELLING TO CHAIN SUPERMARKETS
Izgi employs 35 people, mostly women, in various units from production to packaging in a modern facility that meets European Union (EU) criteria, covering an area of 2,540 square meters. The produced cultivated mushrooms are sold to chain supermarkets operating nationwide. Gürkan İzgi stated that their facility, established with TKDK's grant support, has 19 production rooms, a cold storage room, and a packaging unit.
HAS A PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF 60 TONS PER MONTH
Stating that they have a production capacity of 60 tons per month, Izgi said: "At that time, TKDK was providing a 55% grant support. Now the rates are a bit higher. We benefited from TKDK's support twice. First, we received construction and machinery support. In the second instance, we installed solar panels to produce our own energy. We generate our own electricity. When averaged over 12 months, we have no energy costs. We have 35 personnel, most of whom are women from the three surrounding villages. Thus, we are also supporting the neighboring villages."
"WE DO NOT PUT PRODUCTS ON PEOPLE'S TABLES THAT WE DO NOT FEED OUR CHILDREN"
Izgi stated that the mushrooms they supply to chain supermarkets operating nationwide reach consumers in different cities' shelves. Emphasizing that they practice healthy agriculture and organic production, Izgi said, "Our biggest advantage is that we practice good agriculture. That is, we produce without chemicals. We do not put products on people's tables that we do not feed our children." He noted that despite working at full capacity, they struggle to meet the demands and mentioned that they might plan to expand the facility in the future.
"THOSE WHO WANT TO INVEST MUST DEFINITELY BENEFIT"
Calling on those who are waiting to take entrepreneurial steps to benefit from the support offered by TKDK, Izgi noted: "Grant and VAT exemption supports provide great advantages for those who want to contribute to production, economy, and employment. I consider TKDK to be an invaluable blessing for people in Turkey. During our time, there was a 55% grant support. Currently, the state provides around 70% support to investors, which is a significant amount. Moreover, you can also receive VAT support, and there is absolutely no repayment. This is very valuable. Those who want to invest should definitely take advantage of TKDK."