TZOB President Bayraktar: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug has Become an Economic Threat

Foreks - The President of the Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers (TZOB), Şemsi Bayraktar, evaluated the damage caused by the brown marmorated stink bug to hazelnuts and other agricultural products and the necessary actions to be taken through a video press statement.

"Although our share of world hazelnut production is decreasing, our country still maintains its leadership by producing 64% of the world's hazelnuts," said Bayraktar, continuing his statement; "We hold a monopoly position in hazelnut products globally. By exporting 85% of the hazelnuts we produce, we account for 50% of the global hazelnut exports. This puts our country at the forefront of global hazelnut production and export. However, our producers' struggles continue.

The brown marmorated stink bug has become one of the most significant issues in the strategic hazelnut sector in recent years. This pest, which spread from Georgia to the Borçka district in 2017, now threatens agricultural production across the entire Black Sea region. Infesting more than 300 products with green backs, this pest has started to directly impact the income of farmers whose livelihood is hazelnuts. The future of Turkish hazelnuts, which have no equivalent in the world and hold a unique position in the global market, will be at risk if this pest is not brought under control. This situation will affect not only our producers but also our industrialists, exporters, and in short, our national economy will pay a heavy price."

"The damage caused by the brown marmorated stink bug is victimizing our producers. Producer prices in the market have decreased."

"Since 2017, despite all kinds of warnings from our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, our Union, and other sector representatives, the seriousness of the threat has not been fully understood, and our country faces a major disaster. Last year, the damage caused by the brown marmorated stink bug reached 25%. As it decreases yield along with quality, the increasing scale of damage is harming our producers. This pest has caused a 30-35% drop in yield this year, as well as a 40% increase in the rates of moldy and rotten hazelnuts. Many of our producers were unable to sell their hazelnuts due to these losses.

Without preventive measures, the damage caused by the brown marmorated stink bug is estimated to be between 50% and 75%. This situation can lead to irreparable losses in the hazelnut sector, which provides over $2 billion in export revenue. Despite the low harvest, hazelnut purchase prices are being lowered under the pretext of the bug infestation. The prices formed in the market are well below the hazelnut price announced by the Soil Products Office."

"The brown marmorated stink bug has become an economic threat."

"The brown marmorated stink bug now threatens not only agricultural production but also the economic stability of Turkish agriculture. This pest, which spread out in April, damages hazelnuts starting from clove formations, causing rotting and dropping. As it damages crops up until the harvest stage, it leads to many economic losses, including internal rot in hazelnuts, bitterness in taste, mold growth, and an increase in weevil during storage.

If this increasingly pervasive invasive species is not eradicated, it will spread across our country in the coming years, causing more harm to hazelnuts and other agricultural products. In 2019, we requested compensation for producers due to the damage caused by the citrus long-horned beetle and the brown marmorated stink bug. Our request was considered, and compensation support for plant quarantine for the citrus long-horned beetle was provided to our farmers. Support for garden pesticide and pheromone traps should also be provided for the brown marmorated stink bug.

In combating the brown marmorated stink bug, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has prepared and implemented an action plan covering 2023-2025, in which our Union is also included. Under the action plan, efforts to combat the pest have mobilized the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, as well as the agricultural chambers in the region, exchanges, universities, and institutions related to hazelnuts in the Black Sea region.

Our agricultural chambers in the region, in coordination with the district and provincial directorates of Agriculture and Forestry, have distributed nearly 3,500 pheromone traps to determine the spread areas. These traps are checked at regular intervals to control the spread of the pest. Lastly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has produced the beneficial insect called the Samurai wasp and released it into nature. So far, 207,286 Samurai wasps have been produced and released in 35 provinces. The production of Samurai wasps should be increased to cover larger areas."

"Our farmers cannot fight due to high pesticide prices."

"The high increase in the input costs used in agricultural production has put pressure on our producers, and the added challenge of combating the brown marmorated stink bug poses an obstacle to the sustainability of hazelnut production. In addition to the difficult geographical conditions in the region, the high prices of pesticides hinder our producers from engaging in pesticide combat with their own means. Financial and equipment support from other institutions, including municipalities, is crucial for pesticide supply and application in the fight against the pest."

"The brown marmorated stink bug damages more than 300 products, not just hazelnuts."

"Not only in the Black Sea region but also in many parts of our country, the brown marmorated stink bug threatens fruit and vegetable production, damaging over 300 plant species, primarily hazelnuts, apples, pears, citrus fruits, peaches, walnuts, persimmons, corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and even forest trees. All institutions and organizations should provide the necessary support in combating this pest to contribute to the solution of this problem.

Another difficulty in combating the pest is that some hazelnut orchard owners in the region live in other provinces and only come to the area during the harvest. This situation leads to a collective overwintering of the pest in unoccupied spaces outside agricultural areas, such as vacant homes and barns, hindering comprehensive pesticide combat in these areas. This aspect should not be overlooked in the fight."

"The fight should continue until the brown marmorated stink bug is eradicated."

Awareness-raising efforts targeting producers against the brown marmorated stink bug should be uninterrupted by all institutions and organizations until this pest is eliminated. In this regard, our local and district agricultural chambers continue their informational activities throughout the year.

Not only our producers but also the local people should destroy this pest when they encounter it in their homes, warehouses, and barns. The pest, which hibernates in homes, warehouses, and barns until April, will spread to agricultural areas with the warming of the weather, threatening production in the upcoming season. Therefore, especially during the winter months, these vacant places in villages should be checked, and when encountering this pest, appropriate destruction should be ensured by contacting the provincial/district directorates of Agriculture and Forestry or municipalities.

In late April and May, when the brown marmorated stink bug is active, pesticide combats should be conducted in agricultural areas using plant protection products licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Along with chemical control, biological control is gaining more importance to avoid harming the environment. Therefore, the Ministry should take more initiative in biological and biotechnical control.

Producers affected by the brown marmorated stink bug should be able to repay their debts to agricultural banks and agricultural credit cooperatives at low or no interest rates over the long term, facilitating their access to additional credit.

Our greatest wish is for the relevant institutions and organizations to work hand in hand with our farmers to achieve success in the fight against this pest."