Hazelnut Farming Research Articles

The Effects of Land Fragmentation on Hazelnut Farming in Türkiye: Environmental, Economic, and Policy Perspectives

The Effects of Land Fragmentation on Hazelnut Farming in Türkiye: Environmental, Economic, and Policy Perspectives

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hazelnut production

This study examines the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on hazelnut cultivation. Data are obtained from 196 hazelnut farmers in Turkey. Farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics and satisfaction with COVID-19 precautions are compared by geographical region. Exploratory factor analysis is used to examine the impact of COVID-19, with comparisons made before and during the pandemic via a paired-samples t-test. The results indicate that, though farmers in Ordu and Sakarya have similar socioeconomics and farm assets, they were affected differently by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fertilization costs increased by 60.5%, pesticide costs by 64.4%, and labor wages by 19.1% during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas hazelnut sales prices only increased by 5.2%. Overall, the impact of COVID-19 can be explained across four dimensions: timing issues, increase in input prices, inability to access financial resources, and logistics issues. To generalize the results, it may be appropriate to select similar farmers in different regions and compare monetary values in real terms. In particular, farmers’ increased interest in digital resources due to the pandemic should be considered an opportunity for digital transformation in agricultural extension.

Soil quality assessment based on MCDA–GIS hybrid approach for sustainable hazelnut farming under humid ecosystem environment

Soil quality assessment based on MCDA–GIS hybrid approach for sustainable hazelnut farming under humid ecosystem environment

Factors Influencing Conventional Hazelnut Farmers to Transition to Organic Production: The Case of Türkiye

This study examined the willingness of conventional hazelnut farmers to transition to organic hazelnut production and identified key factors for stimulating such a shift. Face-to-face interviews based on a structured questionnaire were conducted with Turkish farmers who use conventional methods of hazelnut production. A total of 120 interviews were conducted and subjected to data analysis. Logit analysis revealed that the farmers’ decision to transition to organic farming is significantly influenced by several demographic factors (including farmer’s experience, available family labour, available land for organic farming and sufficiency of tools and equipment) and attitudinal predispositions (holding a positive attitude towards organic agriculture). Findings suggest the need for policy actions to support a more willing acceptance of organic farming practices among conventional hazelnut growers, with anticipated positive effects on both the environment and consumer demand.

Is Hazelnut Farming Sustainable? An Analysis in the Specialized Production Area of Viterbo

Specialized agricultural systems may have a strong environmental impact, thus affecting the sustainability of production. The aim of this study is to evaluate the overall environmental impact of the hazelnut production, focusing on the main Italian production area, which is located in the province of Viterbo (central Italy). The theoretical approach adopted in this study refers to the paradigm of ecological economics, recalling the concept of strong sustainability through the conservation of natural capital and its non-replacement with economic capital. This environmental sustainability of farming systems is assessed through the ecological balance (EB) tool by comparing the availability and use of natural capital in each farm scenario. This allows to understand the extent of the load generated on the environment by the different farm’s typologies, as well as the impact on the entire territory where hazelnut cultivation is predominant. For the assessment, local typical farm scenarios are assessed through a Delphi consultation of a panel of experts, thus characterizing the cultivation techniques most frequently adopted in the area. Three typologies of representative farms emerge, which mainly differ for cultivation method and dimension. Cultivation methods associated with the larger farms (both conventional and organic) generate a positive contribution to EB, whereas small farms (conventional) have a negative EB due to the high utilization of inputs. However, the positive balance of the large farms compensates for the negative balance of the small ones. This determines a total positive environmental balance of the specialized production area of Viterbo, equal to 9412 gha. This means that hazelnut farming at a territorial level is sustainable thanks to specific farm managements, which can be promoted by policy-makers.

The Effect of Occupational Health and Safety Education on Hazelnut Agriculture Workers' Knowledge Levels Related to Physical and Ergonomic Hazards

Objective: The study aimed at identifying dangers and risks encountered by hazelnut farm workers and exploring the effect of occupational health and safety training about hazelnut farming upon the workers’ knowledge level. 
 Materials and Methods: In this research, which was conducted as an intervention study, the pre-test post-test single-group research pattern was used. Training and brochures were given to 60 hazelnut agriculture employees selected using a random sampling method after the pretest. The change in the current knowledge score was examined statistically with the last test application two weeks later.
 Results: 53.3% of the participants were male and their average age was 43.0±14.4 years. 60.0% of the participants stated that they had accidents while they were engaged in hazelnut farming and 71.7% of them did not have any training about occupational health and safety previously. Participants’ score of knowledge about physical dangers and risks as to occupational health and safety was 62.7±17.8 before the training while it significantly increased to 79.3±16.3 after the training. It was seen that after the training held; having a previous training, having high educational status, having no accidents previously and being at a young age affected post-test scores significantly. 
 Conclusion: In the study, it was explored that hazelnut farming workers in Trabzon Province lacked knowledge about physical and ergonomic risks in relation to occupational health and safety. For the trainings of the workers; universities, provincial and district directorates of agriculture and agriculture cooperatives can be used.

The agricultural mechanization situation of agricultural enterprises involved in organic and conventional hazelnut cultivation in Turkiye

The aim of the research is to examine and evaluate the agricultural mechanization status of organic and traditional hazelnut farming enterprises in Alaplı and Karadeniz Ereğli districts of Zonguldak province in Turkey. A survey was conducted with a total of 209 enterprises from 34 villages in 2 districts where hazelnut production is intense in the research. The survey study includes information about the land assets of the enterprises, tractor, agricultural-tool and machinery assets, and hazelnut production stages. In addition, mechanization applications in all agricultural processes from tillage to harvest in hazelnut production were examined and evaluated. It has been determined that 24 of the organic hazelnut production enterprises and 30 of the traditional hazelnut production enterprises have tractors and it has been determined that the tractor brand preferences of the enterprises vary independently from each other. Massey Ferguson and New Holland brands are mostly preferred. It has been determined that the vast majority of businesses prefer to use motorized hoeing machines. As a result, when organic hazelnut enterprises used traditional hazelnut production in previous years and gave up this production system, they reduced the use of tools and machinery. For this reason, it has been determined that there are fewer tools and machines in organic hazelnut producer enterprises compared to traditional hazelnut producer enterprises. While the tractor power (kW/ha) value per unit area processed in organic hazelnut producer enterprises was 1.344, this value was found as 6.320 kW/ha in traditional hazelnut producer enterprises. It is seen that traditional hazelnut producer enterprises are in a better situation in terms of mechanization level than organic hazelnut producer enterprises.

Hazelnut-Associated Bacteria and Their Implications in Crop Management

In recent years, the cultivation of hazelnut (Corylus avellana) has expanded in several areas of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America following the increased demand for raw materials by the food industry. Bacterial diseases caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. corylina and Pseudomonas avellanae are threats of major concern for hazelnut farmers. These pathogens have been controlled with copper-based products, which are currently being phased out in the European Union. Following the need for alternative practices to manage these diseases, some progress has been recently achieved through the exploitation of the plant’s systemic acquired resistance mechanisms, nanoparticle technology, as well as preventive measures based on hot water treatment of the propagation material. However, bacteria are not only agents of the biotic adversities of hazelnut. In fact, the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria at the seedling level could enhance better performance of the tree. Likewise, endophytic and epiphytic microorganisms are considered to play a notable role in plant nutrition and protection, and their effects on hazelnut fitness deserve to be further investigated. Finally, bacterial associations may also be relevant in the post-harvest phase, particularly with reference to the processes of lipid oxidation and fat degradation suffered by the kernels after grinding.

Supplementary Irrigation During the Last Cluster Drop Period for Higher Yield and Quality in Conventional Rain-Fed Hazelnut Farming

Supplementary Irrigation During the Last Cluster Drop Period for Higher Yield and Quality in Conventional Rain-Fed Hazelnut Farming

Fındık üretiminde maliyet ve kârlılık analizi, Giresun İli örneği

Amaç: Bu araştırmada, Türkiye fındık üretiminde ikinci sırada yer alan Giresun İli’nde fındık üretim faaliyetinin üretim yapısı analiz edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Materyal ve Yöntem: Araştırma verileri Giresun ili Merkez ilçesi havzasında fındık yetiştiriciliği yapan 227 tarım işletmesi arasından basit tesadüfi örnekleme yönetimi ile seçilmiş 53 işletmeden anket yoluyla toplanmıştır. Fındık üretim maliyetinin belirlenmesinde tek ürün bütçe analiz yöntemi kullanılmış, fındık üretiminde brüt kâr ve net kâr hesaplanmıştır. Araştırma Bulguları: Fındık yetiştiren tarım işletmeleri, fındık yetiştirmek üzere yaptıkları 1 TL’lik masrafa karşılık 0.97 TL elde etmektedir. Yapılan çalışma sonucunda üreticilerin devlet desteği olmadan fındık üretiminden zarar ettikleri, ancak desteklemelerle birlikte 1 kg kabuklu fındığın masraflarını karşılayabildikleri tespit edilmiştir. Üretici tarımsal desteklerle kâra geçmektedir. Sonuç: Araştırma sonucunda üreticilerin en büyük sorununun, emek ve masraflarının karşılığını alamamak olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu nedenle fındıkta sürdürülebilir politikalarla üreticilerin zarar etmesinin önüne geçilmesi önem arz etmektedir.

Exploring The Effects of Part-Time Hazelnut Farming on Agricultural Land Use Characteristics and Its Social Cost

The purposes of the study purpose were (i) to explore the effects of part-time farming on land use characteristics, productivity, and efficiency, and (ii) to estimate the social cost of part-time farming in hazelnut production. The research data were gathered from randomly selected 152 hazelnut farmers in Ordu and Giresun provinces, Turkey. When estimating the part-time farming social cost in hazelnut production, sacrificed production cost, yield losses, and price losses were assessed and combined. The stochastic frontier production function model was used to measure farm-level productive efficiency. The research findings showed that excessive chemical usage, shorter harvesting time, ignoring soil and leaf analysis results when applying fertilizers, lack of investments among farmers were the reasons for inappropriate land use for the part-time farms in the research area. Full-time farmers had a higher technical efficiency score than part-time farmers. The social cost of part-time farming was ₺4424 per hectare and ₺1.47 billion in Black Sea Region. The study suggested using a legislative process to transfer hazelnut orchards to full-time farmers. Facilitating the transfer of unproductive part-time hazelnut orchards to full-time operations may decrease the adverse effects of part-time farming on the sustainability of land use and of externalities. The study also recommended that prescribing part-time farmers to reach direct government support or benefit farmers' education programs may also reduce the social cost of part-time farming. Developing education and extension programs for increasing the qualification of both family and hired labor may positively contribute the sustainable land use in the region.

Fındık Tarımı Yapılan Toprakların Bazı Fiziksel ve Kimyasal Özellikleri ile Verimlilik Durumlarının Belirlenmesi

Fındıkta yüksek verim ve kaliteli ürün alınmasının ön koşullarından birisi toprak ve yaprak analizlerine göre doğru gübrelemedir. Bu araştırma, Ordu İli fındık tarımı yapılan bahçelerin verimlilik durumunu belirleyebilmek için 40 farklı bahçeden toprak örneği alınarak toprakların bazı fiziksel ve kimyasal analizleri yapılmasıyla verimlilik durumları belirlenmiştir. Toprakların bünye (tekstür), pH ve kireç durumları saptanmış ve sınır değerlerle kıyaslanmıştır. Buna göre, toprakların pH düzeyleri hafif asitten hafif alkaliye arasında değiştiği ve genellikle az kireçli olduğu belirlenmiştir. Toprakların mineral besin elementleri arasından %90’ında fosfor, %62.5’inde kalsiyum, %100’ünde magnezyum ve %52.5’sinde ise çinko bakımından noksan olduğu saptanmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre fındık yetiştiriciliği yapılan bahçelerin özellikle besin elementleri bakımından yetersiz olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Fındıkta gübrelemede tek düze gübreleme yerine çok besinli gübrelerin kullanılmasıyla beslenme sorunu giderilebilir.

Determination of Factors Affecting Hazelnut Farmers' Agricultural Insurance by Data Mining Algorithms

Determination of Factors Affecting Hazelnut Farmers' Agricultural Insurance by Data Mining Algorithms

Climate change impacts on phenology and yield of hazelnut in Australia

The growing demand for nuts and the required diversification of supply are urging to identify additional zones for hazelnut tree cultivation around the world. Given the long-term nature of the investment needed to establish new orchards, an ex-ante evaluation of the future production trends due to global changes is critical to support stakeholders and decision makers. With this motivation, we investigate the physiological response and the attainable yield of hazelnut in Australia, using a process-based model. Simulations examined phenological development, hazelnut growth processes and yield in recent past and near-future climate conditions, using an ensemble of regional climate models bounded by four global climate models (GCMs). While the entire domain of analysis will warm up in the next twenty years, the precipitation patterns are rather erratic across GCMs. The effect of climate change on hazelnut farming is variable across agro-climatic zones, except in the southeasternmost part of Australia, where all simulations agree in predicting a yield increase ranging from 18 to 52%. Elsewhere the hazelnut production potential varies, with some GCMs projecting yield increase and others estimating reductions or no significant changes. Yield increase is associated mainly with higher gross assimilation rates, whereas decrease is related to a delay in chilling requirements fulfilment, caused by the projected increase in minimum temperatures and to sub-optimal conditions for the photosynthetic process. Despite the need of additional field trials to further validate the model, these results may be used by private and public bodies to support new investment plans, and promote legislative measures aimed at encouraging hazelnut cultivation in Australia.

Devlet ve Küresel Piyasa Arasında: Karadeniz Bölgesi’nde Küçük Ölçekli Fındık Üretimi

Turkey is the world’s largest hazelnut producer and exporter, yet hazelnut farmers have been growing hazelnuts in increasingly difficult conditions even for the years when production levels and hazelnut prices are high. In this paper, we take up the contradictions in hazelnut cultivation in Turkey and seek to show that, despite the commonsense opinion that the problem stems from small-scale cultivation, the more important problem is the unequal power relations that exist in the hazelnut market. We make the following arguments in the paper based on some of the findings from the field study we carried out in the Western and Eastern Black Sea regions in 2017. Issues exist regarding productivity and profitability in hazelnut cultivation characterized by small holdings. Hazelnut farmers are often unable to meet the expenditures and investments required for raising productivity. These problems arise more from the farmers’ demographic profiles and debt levels and the unequal power relations in the hazelnut market with respect to small-scale production. Therefore, resolving the problems in hazelnut cultivation might require making changes that favor small farmers’ power relations in the hazelnut market rather than enlarging holdings.

Seasonal Local Female Workers in Hazelnut Agriculture: The Case of Fatsa

The main purpose of this study is to make visible the female labor used in the production of hazelnuts which is important agricultural product for Turkey. Especially, women living in rural areas constitute the most disadvantageous in terms of the problems encountered. The invisibility of women's labor in rural areas emerges as informal and precarious and the vast majority of the work done with depreciation seen as an extension of domestic works. On the other hand, when the related literature is examined, even though many studies are carried out regarding the working and living conditions of women, the studies conducted with the women working in the agricultural sector are limited. Although these studies deal with the issue of labor in hazelnut farming with different dimensions, the women’s labor and gender perspective has not been mentioned very much. In this context, our study has been carried out on local and seasonal agricultural female workers who are generally ignored in the literature. In this context, in the two different villages of Fatsa District of Ordu, detailed interviews were conducted within the framework of semi-structured questionnaires with neutrally selected 20 women., In the interviews, sociological characteristics of women, ownership structure, working and living conditions, gender relations and future fictions of women have been asked.

Assessing the Resilience and Sustainability of a Hazelnut Farming System in Central Italy with a Participatory Approach

European agriculture is facing increasing economic, environmental, institutional, and social challenges, from changes in demographic trends to the effects of climate change. In this context of high instability, the agricultural sector in Europe needs to improve its resilience and sustainability. Local assessments and strategies at the farming system level are needed, and this paper focuses on a hazelnut farming system in central Italy. For the assessment, a participatory approach was used, based on a stakeholder workshop. The results depicted a system with a strong economic and productive role, but which seems to overlook natural resources. This would suggest a relatively low environmental sustainability of the system, although the actual environmental impact of hazelnut farming is controversial. In terms of resilience, we assessed it by looking at the perceived level of three capacities: robustness, adaptability, and transformability. The results portrayed a highly robust system, but with relatively lower adaptability and transformability. Taking the farming system as the focal level was important to consider the role of different actors. While mechanisation has played a central role in enhancing past and present system resilience, future improvements can be achieved through collective strategies and system diversification, and by strengthening the local hazelnut value chain.

Kurutma Yöntemlerinin Fındığın (Corylus avellana L.) Yağ Asitleri İçeriği Üzerine Etkileri: Derleme

Fındık, Türkiye'nin Doğu ve Batı Karadeniz Bölgesinin önemli tarımsal ürünüdür ve genellikle dünya pazarına kurutulmuş ve kabuklu olarak ihraç edilmektedir. Fındık zuruflu olarak genellikle güneş altında çimen ve beton harmanda kurutulmaktadır. Geleneksel kurutma güneş altında (beton ve çimen harman) hava koşullarına bağlı olarak 10-25 gün kadar sürmektedir. Hasat sırasında eğer yağmur olursa, kuruma süresi uzayarak ürünün bozulmasına yol açar. Hasat sonrasında özellikle zuruflarından ayırma ve kurutma hayati önem taşımaktadır. Çünkü güneş altında beton ve çimen harmanda kurutma küf gelişimine neden olmaktadır. Ayrıca, güneş altında kurutulan örnekler yağın stabilitesini etkileyen serbest yağ asitleri salmaktadır. Suni kurutma yöntemleri ile küf gelişimi ve yağ oksidasyonu önlenebilir. Bu yüzden suni kurutma fındık kurutma için gelecek vadeden bir strateji olarak görülmektedir.

An Overview of Hazelnut Markets and Policy in Turkey

Turkey is the biggest actor in the world hazelnut market with its production potential and policies. The aim of this paper was to assess the recent developments in the Turkish hazelnut market and policy. The time series data of hazelnut markets was taken from the internet databases of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI), Black Sea Hazelnut Exporter Union (BSHEU), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MoAF), Giresun Commodity Exchange (GCE) and Official Journal and Turkish Republic (OJoTR). Under the New Hazelnut Strategy, an area based payment has been provided to the hazelnut farmers in the authorized areas and a compensatory payment had been provided to the farmers in the unauthorized areas. Since 2001, while hazelnut areas and the export of Turkey had increased, hazelnut yield and production had decreased. Despite increases in hazelnut prices, Turkey could increase hazelnut export both in terms of quantity and value. While there is no need to limit hazelnut areas in high crop years, the government should establish a hazelnut buffer stock mechanism. The Turkish government should also create fair competition conditions for the actors in the hazelnut market with a more effective hazelnut policy.

The Determinants of Technical Efficiency of Hazelnut Production in Azerbaijan: An Analysis of the Role of NGOs

The role of non-government organizations (NGOs) has been commendable in promoting sustainable farming. Through mobilization of existing resources and provision of training to farmers on various agriculture subjects, NGOs could trigger increased productivity and agricultural sustainability. However, empirical evidence on this claim is limited and no study recognizes the supporting conditions required for NGO intervention to improve productivity. Cross-sectional data from hazelnut farmers in Azerbaijan are used to evaluate the role of NGO intervention in improving farmers’ technical efficiency. To this end, stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) is applied to study hazelnut farmers’ production efficiency. Three different measures are employed to estimate NGO intervention: Training, subsidy and, a combination of training and subsidy. The results indicate that NGO intervention is not significant in influencing technical efficiency. This is attributable to the absence of good organization, innovation orientation, accountability and stakeholder involvement and support which are the necessary supporting conditions facilitating an enabling environment for NGO intervention to improve farmers’ technical efficiency. Therefore, we recommend policy directed at addressing these issues in order to simultaneously enhance farmers’ productivity and improve the functioning of the NGOs. Beyond NGO intervention, encouraging farmers to specialize in hazelnut production and allocating more suitable land for hazelnut production will also improve farmers’ technical efficiency significantly.