In Turkey 500 thousand families directly and indirectly make a living from hazelnuts produced on 725,000 hectares in 16 provinces. In the Black Sea Region, which constitutes the important potential of the country in hazelnut production, Ordu is the leader in the ranking of the highest production area, with its orchard of approximately 230,000 hectares.
The annual return of the product in question is around 2.5 billion dollars, says Cengiz Bostanci, of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: “Our target in hazelnut is at least five billion dollars. It’s very easy to reach this figure by increasing the yield in production areas. Yield increase is provided with modern production techniques. Hazelnuts produced in our country are the highest quality hazelnuts in the world. Hazelnuts produced in Turkey are used in different fields in many countries, especially in the chocolate sector, and this once again reveals the quality of Turkish hazelnuts. 75 per cent of the world hazelnut production is carried out in Turkey, we export 80 to 85 per cent of the hazelnuts we produce.”
While the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry set the hazelnut production forecast for 2023 as 717,931 tons, the International Council of Nut Fruits (INC) / exporters' forecast is 810 thousand tonnes, Bastonaci states. “There is a difference of approximately 100 thousand tonnes between the two estimates. The yield estimation commission is formed with the participation of 11 different institutions under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.”
“Hazelnut exporters exported 1.6 billion dollars’ worth of hazelnuts in the 10-month period of the 2022-2023 hazelnut season, selling 262,173 tons. Exports were made to 119 countries in ten months. Germany, Italy and France were the top three countries to which Turkey exported the most. We transfer our knowledge on hazelnut cultivation to the producers of countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Italy and the USA, especially to Turkish farmers, in line with their demands. We’re also in contact with engineers working on hazelnut in these countries,” Bostanci concludes.
For more information:
Cengiz Bostanci
Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Bartin
Tel: +905074300840
Email: tarimbilisim@yahoo.com.tr