Şahin: “High yield is announced for speculation in hazelnuts”

President of the Keşap Chamber of Agriculture in Giresun, Abdullah Şahin, pointed out that considering the middle and high altitudes, thinking that the hazelnut yield is good would be misleading, stating that the yield is weak in the coastal areas of Giresun, where more than 60% of hazelnut production is made.
President of the Keşap Chamber of Agriculture, Abdullah Şahin, stated that it is impossible for the estimated yield of 770 thousand tons announced by TÜİK after the 785 thousand tons of yield announced by the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) to materialize, emphasizing that the hazelnut yield puzzle, experienced every year, persists this year as well. He mentioned that the exaggerated yields announced by some institutions before the season starts have a speculative purpose on prices. Therefore, the possibility of realization of the 785 thousand tons of yield announced at the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council and the 770 thousand tons announced by TÜİK is low. Because the yield estimates made so far have been based on clove counts, which are not sufficient and reliable in yield estimation, as every fruit blooms but without pollination, there will be no fruit.
Şahin also stated that the most reliable yield estimation will be made with catkin counts, emphasizing that the reliable yield estimation, especially at the end of June and the beginning of July, is carried out with catkin counts. Therefore, the yield announced by official sources under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is more reliable. For this, we will have to wait for the catkin count to be conducted in July. Currently, what is visible is that hazelnuts seem normal in the middle and high altitudes but very weak in the coastal areas. Coastal areas cover more than 60% of hazelnut production.