Hazelnut harvest continues in Kocaali, one of the important centers of hazelnut production. Some producers who take great care of the crop continue to harvest the ripened hazelnuts in their orchards.
The harvest season has started in Kocaali, one of the important centers of hazelnut production with 167 thousand hectares of hazelnut orchards. Some producers have entered the orchards to harvest the ripened hazelnuts. In addition, seasonal agricultural workers from the Eastern and Southeastern provinces who have settled in accommodation areas in Kocaali have started intense work. Agricultural workers sweat for about 12 hours under the heat for a daily wage of 450 Turkish Liras.
“We stay for 1 month in some places, and 45-50 days in others”
Mahmut Başakçı, a seasonal agricultural worker who came from Mardin to Kocaali to pick hazelnuts, stated, “I come here as a seasonal worker. I have been here for a week. We start at 8 in the morning and finish around 7 in the evening. We stay at the farm provided by the orchard owner. We start early in the morning and work until the evening, which of course strains the body. We pick hazelnuts, carry sacks. There are 21-22 of us working in this orchard” he said.
“I am waiting for last year’s yield”
Süleyman Başakçı, a seasonal agricultural worker who came from Diyarbakır to contribute to the household economy, said, “The hazelnut season has arrived and we have come here from Diyarbakır. We stay for 1 month in some places, and 45-50 days in others. At the moment, the hazelnut price does not save the producer, therefore the daily wages do not save the worker either. You bend down and pick hazelnuts from morning till evening, it is difficult, of course, it strains the body. We work for about 12 hours and get 450 TL per day. We have been working for a week and will work here for about 35-40 more days” he stated.
