With the proven good agricultural practices of "Ferrero Hazelnut" in 52 models of orchards spread across the Black Sea since 2017, an increase of approximately 60 percent has been observed in hazelnut quality so far.
"Ferrero Hazelnut" company continues to implement the Ferrero Valuable Agriculture (FFV) sustainability program with the aim of supporting the steps to be taken in the process of modernizing the hazelnut industry and developing the value chain in all aspects in Turkey.
Within the scope of the program's 'Environmental Protection and Sustainability Business Model' title, FFV field experts have been supporting the spread of proven good agricultural practices and innovative agricultural solutions by implementing them in 52 model orchards, all belonging to hazelnut producers, spread throughout the Black Sea Region since 2017.
“Producers personally observe the benefits of the right farming techniques”
Bamsı Akın, General Manager of Ferrero Hazelnut, "While we convey good agricultural practices to producers with services such as consultancy and training in the field, we also demonstrate best practice examples in our model gardens. Producers have the opportunity to personally observe the tangible benefits of correct agricultural techniques that also support sustainability. Since 2017, when the project was commissioned, the size of the garden, where good agricultural practices have been implemented, has continued to increase every year. Thanks to the Model Gardens in their nearby villages, 7000 hazelnut producers registered in the Ferrero Precious Agriculture system observe and implement good agricultural practices in their own gardens every day. The number of hazelnut producers we reached exceeds this number when we add the surrounding villages. We are launching digital opportunities that will enable the development of the hazelnut value chain with good agricultural practices and further expand our sphere of influence," he said.
Sets an example for hazelnut producers in the Black Sea Region
Thanks to the training and application support for pest and disease management, plant nutrition, harvesting and pruning offered in model gardens, hazelnut producers improve garden health, increase the quality of hazelnuts, reduce the fight against diseases and pests, prevent the garden from drying out, increase the effectiveness of fertilizers, and prevent damage to branches. gains benefits such as cost reduction. The achievements of hazelnut producers, who have the opportunity to experience and produce together with agricultural experts, also contribute to the spread of good agriculture by setting an example for other producers in the region.
Ferrero Valuable Agriculture team brought beneficial applications to hazelnut farming in Turkey
It was noted that with the Model Gardens project, hazelnut producers started to use post-harvest foliar fertilizer and calcium nitrate applications from the soil in their gardens for the first time.
The size of the garden where foliar fertilizer applied after harvest, which affects the increase in the quality of hazelnuts and the improvement of the health of the garden, exceeded 230 thousand decares in the 2021-22 period, while the size of the garden where calcium nitrate was applied from the soil exceeded 220 thousand decares. Thanks to the good agricultural practices carried out in the model orchards, there has been a 60% decrease in the formation of lumpy and rotten hazelnuts, resulting in an approximately 60% increase in hazelnut quality.