Hazelnut Harvest Begins in Samsun with an Expected Yield of 115,000 Tons
· NTV Ekonomi
Following frost damage, the hazelnut harvest in Samsun has commenced, with an anticipated yield of 115,000 tons. Producers are receiving up to 70% support for harvesting nets to reduce labor costs.
Harvest Begins in Samsun's Mid-Altitude Regions
The new season's hazelnut harvest work has officially kicked off in the mid-altitude regions with a hazelnut harvest festival held in Kaleboğazı Neighborhood of Canik district in Samsun. Stating that approximately 450,000 producers across Turkey are working diligently in the orchards, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Kemal Yılmaz, described hazelnuts as 'green gold.'
Canik Mayor İbrahim Sandıkçı, who attended the event and wished for abundant earnings, made the following statement:
"This is the first time we are organizing a hazelnut harvest festival in our district. This year, the hazelnut yield appears to be quite high. Hopefully, our producers will benefit positively from this abundance. I wish for a year where our producers receive the reward for their labor."
High Yield Expected Across the Province
According to data from the Samsun Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, the province has a total of 125,000 hectares of hazelnut production area, with 90% of this concentrated in the 5 eastern districts. Sharing the yield expectation at the start of the harvest, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Kemal Yılmaz, noted:
"Today is the harvest day, when they finally receive the return for the expenses they incurred and the care they provided. We have started the harvest here. These harvesting efforts are continuing throughout the province. Samsun has 125,000 hectares of hazelnut area. Notably, 90% of this hazelnut area is located in 5 of our eastern districts. Our production this year is better than last year. Last year, there were some issues, especially in the higher altitudes. Frost damage occurred. This year, our yield is above last year's. We expect around 115,000 tons of hazelnuts."
Frost Damage Left Behind, Yield Increased
In the past production season, losses occurred in the orchards due to frost events, particularly in the higher altitude areas. With favorable weather conditions this season, producers in the mid-altitude regions have reported a threefold increase in yield, with Provincial Director Yılmaz emphasizing that this increase will directly reflect on producer income.
Harvest Net Grant Support for Producers
It was stated that up to 70% grant support for harvesting nets is being provided under the Rural Development Investments Support Program to reduce collection and labor costs in hazelnut production. It was announced that 97 new producers have applied for this support this year, which was previously utilized by 151 producers, and their applications have been sent to the Ministry.