İLYAS EDİP SEVİNÇ: COVID-19 HAS HAD NO EFFECT ON HAZELNUT EXPORTS SO FAR

Chairman of Black Sea Hazelnut and Hazelnut Products Exporters' Association İlyas Edip Sevinç said that the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has slowed trade and adversely affected the national economies all over the world.


Stating that this process has not had any effect on hazelnut exports so far, Sevinç said, "In the period of 1 September 2019-19 April 2020, 266 thousand 300 tons of hazelnuts were exported and earned 1 billion 758 million dollars of foreign exchange revenue, compared to last year, amounting to 62 thousand 480 tons and 578 in value. It is expected to break a new record by reaching 320 thousand tons at the end of the season."

Pointing out that months of April and May are important in terms of fertilization, spraying and maintenance of gardens in order to produce hazelnut, which provides foreign currency input to the country without using any imported item, Sevinç also emphasized that they appreciated not including of agriculturers in the curfew.

Noting that there are many hazelnut producers living in big cities outside the Black Sea Region and who cannot reach their gardens due to travel restrictions, Sevinç added:

"Granting access to their gardens outside the city where they reside, provided that they cannot reach their hometown due to travel restrictions, documenting that they are registered in the Farmer Registration System (ÇKS), as well as supporting producers for such mandatory agricultural practices in gardens by the relevant professional bodies, it is vital to organize the necessary arrangements by
local authorities and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry."