Burdur Lavender Harvest Grows, Shifts to Dried Export

Around 1,500 dekars of lavender planted under the Lisinia Doğa project near Burdur Lake have entered full bloom, attracting both domestic and foreign visitors. The area, managed by Mehmet Akif Ersoy University and the villages of Akçaköy and Karakent, now hosts over 100,000 tourists annually, a drop from pre‑pandemic figures of 400,000 but showing a modest rise this year.

Project founder Öztürk Sarıca explained that the operation has expanded to about 3,000 dekars of medicinal and aromatic plants, including medical lavender, hybrid varieties, thyme and sage. Historically the lavender oil was extracted and exported, but “Because of the high real value of the TL, overseas sales of oil have fallen and we are now drying the lavender, thyme and sage for the world market,” he said. The shift to dried products aims to improve competitiveness abroad while maintaining the region’s ecotourism appeal.

The initiative also emphasizes sustainable agriculture, water‑saving practices and the protection of Burbur Lake, reinforcing the area's role as a growing agribusiness and eco‑tourism hub.