In hazelnuts, harvesting costs are being reduced with nets

In Düzce, approximately 632,000 decares out of a total of 750,000 decares are dedicated to hazelnut production. Among the highest input costs in hazelnut farming is the harvesting process. In the region, where hazelnut cultivation occurs at elevations of 0-250 and 250-500 meters, producers typically perform hand-harvesting from the branches. In orchards with mixed plantings, harvesting hazelnuts that reach maturity at different times simultaneously can lead to significant losses in yield and quality.

To reduce the rising labor costs for producers in Düzce, adopting the net system for harvesting is recommended. This method helps prevent yield losses that occur with hand-harvested nuts and reduces the input costs per unit area. The net system also significantly lowers the costs associated with cleaning weeds from beneath the trees. With the net system, hazelnuts that mature on the branches can be collected by shaking the branches, which avoids damage to next year's buds and shoots that can occur during hand-harvesting. Mature hazelnuts, which fall to the ground either naturally or through shaking, have high yield since they are fully filled. Harvesting from the ground offers a yield advantage of at least 2-3 compared to hand-harvesting from the branches, especially in maintaining the market quality of exported products.

Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Esra Uzun noted that using the net system for harvesting provides a cost advantage in terms of labor. "In orchards where hazelnuts are hand-harvested, the cost of labor per decare can be 8-10 workers, whereas with the net system, a producer can harvest the hazelnuts from 1 decare of land with just 2 or 3 workers in a day," she said.

Director Uzun visited Ercan İlhan's orchard and congratulated him for setting an example in the region with his production methods. She encouraged other producers to consider this system and wished all producers a fruitful and bountiful 2024 production season.