Harvest nets as innovative, new technology
The production costs for organic hazelnuts is higher than that of conventional hazelnuts. That is why we are interested in developing innovative solutions that make organic hazelnut production more efficient and improve the quality of hazelnuts.
To do this, Işik Tarim & Varistor AG started a pilot project last year to test the use of harvest nets to collect hazelnuts. Before harvesting, the entire ground of the plantation is covered with nets. As soon as the nuts are ripe, they naturally fall from the tree onto the net. The nuts are then easily collected with the nets. With this method, workers no longer have to collect every single hazelnut from the ground and harvesting becomes a lot easier. The greatest added value is the significant savings in harvesting time and harvest costs.
We carried out the first larger field test with voluntary producers during the harvest of 2019. Participating farmers were trained in the use of the harvest net and accompanied to the field. The first results of the pilot trial look very promising. Therefore, we plan to expand this project in 2020.
To do this, Işik Tarim & Varistor AG started a pilot project last year to test the use of harvest nets to collect hazelnuts. Before harvesting, the entire ground of the plantation is covered with nets. As soon as the nuts are ripe, they naturally fall from the tree onto the net. The nuts are then easily collected with the nets. With this method, workers no longer have to collect every single hazelnut from the ground and harvesting becomes a lot easier. The greatest added value is the significant savings in harvesting time and harvest costs.
We carried out the first larger field test with voluntary producers during the harvest of 2019. Participating farmers were trained in the use of the harvest net and accompanied to the field. The first results of the pilot trial look very promising. Therefore, we plan to expand this project in 2020.
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“With the conventional manual harvesting method, the nuts are shaken from the tree when they are not yet ripe. Using harvest nets allows the nuts to fall during the natural ripening process, increasing their quality”.
Nursel Kazanci, Happy Hazelnut Producer |
