Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The Value Added Hazelnut Award Ceremony, which was held outdoors in Sakarya İncipark and hosted by Sakarya Commodity Exchange President Adem Sarı, was held with the participation of TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu as well as National Hazelnut Council and Giresun Commodity Exchange President Hamza Bölük, TMO President Ahmet Güldal, Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Yüce and Sakarya Governor Çetin Oktay Kaldırım.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech at the ceremony, emphasized that hazelnuts are one of the most strategic and valuable agricultural products of Turkey. Hisarcıklıoğlu, who evaluated hazelnuts with the expression 'gold that grows in the soil', said, “There is no import input, it is completely domestic and national. It earns around $2 billion in foreign currency every year. It becomes income for 600,000 families. It protects the soil, beautifies it. Therefore, hazelnuts are really a product that brings abundance here. We must know the value of this blessing bestowed on us by Allah, protect it and develop it."

- We are rich in production, poor in income

Hisarcıklıoğlu, who mentioned that despite all its value, unfortunately they could not evaluate hazelnuts properly, said, “We are rich in production and poor in income in hazelnuts. We export hazelnuts to about 120 countries. But only 40 percent of exports are in the form of processed hazelnuts. In other words, we send most of our product out as raw material. We should consider hazelnuts not only as snacks but also as industrial products.”

Emphasizing that it is essential to increase the yield in hazelnut production, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “When we increase this, we will see a much greater abundance. For this, it is necessary to first improve the quality of hazelnuts. We need to rehabilitate the areas and renovate the old fields. We need to pay more attention to its care-pruning. Thus, we can double the export revenue, increase it to 5 billion dollars. As TOBB, together with our Commodity Exchanges, we are working to increase the number of licensed warehouses in order to add value to hazelnuts.

On the other hand, we also established the Turkish Product Specialized Exchange. In Giresun, together with our Giresun Commodity Exchange, Düzce Commodity Exchange and Rize Commodity Exchange, we put into operation the first Hazelnut Licensed Warehouse of our country. In this way, both producers, merchants and industrialists will win. On the other hand, our Commodity Exchanges are also implementing projects aimed at earning more from hazelnuts. It establishes sample gardens and distributes saplings to the producer. It is carrying out studies that will increase the yield and quality of hazelnuts. I am happy to follow them and congratulate them.”