Hakan Özdemir transforms idle land in Elazığ into aromatic plant farm

Hakan Özdemir, a primary school teacher with 27 years of experience, has converted idle mountainous land in Düğüntepe village, Baskil district, into a productive farm for medicinal and aromatic plants. After being reassigned to his hometown in Elazığ, Özdemir leased the unused state land to begin a project that started as a hobby.

The five-decare farm currently produces sage, lemon balm, rosemary, and lavender. Now in its fourth year, the farm is seeing significant yields due to consistent maintenance. Because medicinal plant cultivation and mechanization are limited in the Elazığ region, Özdemir must coordinate harvesting schedules based on local weather conditions and rainfall.

The harvested products are marketed to tea factories and large spice wholesalers outside of Elazığ, ensuring the sustainability of the production.