Sakarya’s Agricultural Potential and Vision for Value-Added Production Were Presented
Sakarya Commodity Exchange Chairman of the Board Mustafa Genç was a guest on the program “The Power of Production,” moderated by Ali Çağatay on CNBC-e. Chairman Genç spoke about Sakarya’s potential in agriculture and livestock and the vision of value-added production.
**“Sakarya Is a Producing City”**
During the program, Chairman Genç drew attention to Sakarya’s production power and emphasized that the city has strategic advantages in agriculture and livestock. Stating that agricultural production is concentrated in three main regions, Genç said that hazelnut production is mainly carried out in the northern districts of Karasu, Kaynarca, Kocaali, and Hendek. He reminded that Sakarya once ranked second in hazelnut production in Türkiye, but with Samsun moving ahead in production, the province is now in third place.
Genç also noted that crop production stands out in the central region; mainly corn, as well as sugar beet and sunflower are cultivated, while quince, grapes, and various fruit varieties are widely produced in the southern districts.
**A Transition Center in Livestock**
Stating that Sakarya is an important transit point in livestock, Chairman Genç highlighted the contribution of the Livestock Exchange to the regional economy. He explained that the animals produced are delivered as carcass meat to major metropolitan areas such as Istanbul and that the region holds a significant market share in this field.
**“Hazelnuts Are a Strategic Product”**
Emphasizing that hazelnuts are a strategic product for Türkiye, Chairman Genç stated that most of the production is exported to Europe and makes a significant contribution to the national economy. However, he noted that while Türkiye’s share in the global market was around 80 percent 20 years ago, it has fallen to around 60 percent today, mainly because other countries have also started producing hazelnuts.
Genç pointed out that the brown marmorated stink bug pest, frost events, and drought negatively affect production, stressing that yield per area must be increased. He warned that if the yield does not reach 200 kilograms per decare, competition will become difficult, and if necessary measures are not taken, production could fall below 50 percent within the next 10 years.
**Conscious Agriculture and Mechanization**
Referring to the effects of global climate change, Chairman Genç stated that hazelnut seedlings requiring less water should be developed, correct fertilization based on soil analysis should be applied, and conscious agricultural practices should be expanded.
He added that mechanization reduces costs and that proper irrigation methods can save both water and fertilizer, while rainwater harvesting practices should also be encouraged.
**Planned Production and Licensed Warehousing**
Evaluating corn production, Chairman Genç reminded that Türkiye is a country experiencing a water crisis and said that corn consumes more water compared to wheat and barley. He emphasized the importance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s planned production policy and noted that in the past, 400 thousand tons of corn were produced in the Sakarya Plain.
Genç also touched on the importance of licensed warehousing, recalling that TMO–TOBB LİDAŞ was established 14 years ago with the initiative of TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and thanked him for this important step. He stated that when completed, the licensed warehouse capacity across Türkiye will reach 22 million tons and that this capacity will be sufficient for the country. He added that tax withholding exemptions in licensed warehouses and the ability to sell products electronically via TÜRİB provide significant advantages for producers.
**Karasu Port and Logistics Strength**
Emphasizing that Karasu Port is Sakarya’s gateway to the world, Chairman Genç said that expanding the port and connecting a railway line from Arifiye to the port would increase the city’s agricultural and trade strength.
He concluded by stating that Sakarya has great potential in agriculture, industry, and tourism, adding that although the small scale of agricultural lands may seem like a disadvantage, the city’s proximity to metropolitan areas offers an important advantage.
You can access the broadcast replay via the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUNLDfjZsDg&t=1023s