Costs in hazelnut production strain producers, while workers earn high incomes

Ahead of the upcoming new hazelnut season in the Doğu Karadeniz region, producers are facing immense economic pressure due to skyrocketing input costs. Last season, hazelnut prices exceeded 300 lira per kilogram but subsequently fell to 150 lira levels, largely failing to meet producers' expectations. This year, production costs have virtually doubled, breaking the backs of thousands of farmers in the region. In particular, extraordinary price increases in agricultural inputs are making hazelnut farming an increasingly less profitable endeavor. Producers are fighting a two-front battle against both rising costs and price pressure in the market.

One of the most notable increases among cost items has been in 26 Azot fertilizer, which is heavily used in hazelnut orchards. Sold for between 8 thousand and 10 thousand lira per ton last year, this fertilizer has roughly doubled this year, reaching 18 thousand 500 TL. This massive increase in fertilizer alone is severely straining farmers' pre-season budgets. Producers state that the prices of such essential inputs rising so much has turned the preparation process for the new season into a nightmare. Similar increases in the costs of other supportive materials needed in agricultural fields further compound the severity of the situation.

The maintenance of hazelnut orchards, especially weed control, also poses a significant financial burden for producers. In the region, a pricing system based on the fuel tank of the brush cutter is generally applied for weed clearing, rather than a standard daily wage. While workers demand at least 2 thousand 500 TL for each tank that empties in about an hour, this figure can go up to 4 thousand TL depending on the terrain's difficulty. A worker working an average of 8 hours a day can earn up to 20 thousand TL daily, meaning a continuously working worker's monthly income can reach 600 thousand TL. Although this situation heralds a highly profitable season for workers, it is burning a deep hole in producers' pockets.

In addition to current input and maintenance costs, it is noted that labor expenses during the approaching harvest period are also concerning producers. In the new season, the daily wages of hazelnut picking workers are expected to be at least 2 thousand 500 TL. These high labor costs during the harvesting phase will drive production expenses even higher and seriously erode farmers' profit margins. Struggling to meet increasing maintenance and harvest expenses, producers are painting increasingly pessimistic pictures regarding the income they will earn at the end of the season. If this trend in input costs continues, the risk of small-scale producers withdrawing from production may also come to the agenda.

In addition to rising costs, producers are also complaining about recurring yield debates that cause distress every year. Contrary to official announcements, some institutions showing the hazelnut yield higher than it actually is creates an artificial price pressure in the market. This artificial pressure causes the market value of hazelnuts to drop, making it difficult for producers to even cover their expenses. This multidimensional crisis in the hazelnut sector is both lowering producer motivation and negatively affecting the regional economy. Regional farmers are demanding that institutions take more realistic steps on this issue and that urgent solutions be produced to prevent rising costs.