Hazelnut season begins on Türkiye's steepest slopes

Hazelnut harvest season has begun in the Hizan district of Bitlis, a region known as the "Black Sea of the East" for its lush green landscape, where the crop is cultivated on the steep, sloped hillsides surrounding local villages.

Grown across seven villages and 15 hamlets in the district's Nazar region, an area whose climate and soil are particularly well-suited to hazelnut cultivation, the crop serves as one of the main sources of livelihood for the local population.

Farmers set out for the hazelnut orchards at first light, beginning a physically demanding workday that stretches through the early morning hours on the region's difficult terrain.

Using long, cane-like poles, workers pull the hazelnut branches down toward the ground before gathering the nuts through communal labor and filling large sacks by hand.

Once the sacks are full, producers must carry them down the steep slopes, sometimes hoisting the loads onto their own backs and sometimes relying on mules to transport the harvest back to their villages.

After the harvest, the hazelnuts are spread out to dry on the rooftops of village homes, a traditional method that takes advantage of the region's sun and open-air conditions.

Workers then separate the hazelnuts from their husks, either by hand or with the help of sticks, before leaving the nuts to dry for several more days until they are ready for consumption.

Known for their plumpness, high oil content, hard shell, and distinctive aroma, Hizan hazelnuts have built a reputation that extends well beyond the district, reaching consumers across neighboring provinces and other parts of Türkiye.

Local officials estimate that hazelnuts are cultivated on roughly 5,000 decares of land in the district, with this year's yield expected to reach between 400 and 450 tons despite farmers receiving no fuel or fertilizer subsidies.

For an estimated 400 families in villages such as Calikanlar, hazelnut farming remains a primary source of income, even as the region's rugged, sloped terrain continues to make each harvest season a test of endurance.