General Directorate of Forestry of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has set a target of $ 350 million of trade volume for world markets sought-after truffle fungus species. As of today, an area of 357 hectares for truffle gardens have been established in our country.
Truffles, which were not even on the agenda of our country up until about 6 years ago, are today the focus of attention of all sections of society, from hunters to investors, consumers to tourism professionals.
TRUFFLE FOREST ACTION PLAN IS PREPARED
Truffle, the fruiting body of a subterranean ascomycete fungus, increases its value and market on a global scale every year. The fact that truffles grow naturally in our country indicates that our country has suitable conditions in terms of truffle cultivation. In this context, General Directorate of Forestry has prepared and put into practice the Truffle Forest Action Plan in 2014 in order to identify the natural wealth of our country, raise public awareness, open a new economic gain gate for rural people and bring this wealth to the national economy.
2 TONS OF PRODUCTION
Within the scope of the Action Plan, 4,000 people from different interest groups were given practical and theoretical training for truffle diagnose ecology, and economy, gardening, searching in nature and conserving, raising public awareness and drawing attention of forest villagers. In the nurseries, truffle grafted oak saplings were produced and truffle gardens were established on an area of 357 hectares. As of 2018, 2 tons of truffles have been produced.
THE PRICE OF THE TRUFFLE VARIES BETWEEN 100 EUROS AND 1.500 EUROS
Underlining that Truffle is a source of livelihood for about 200 families in Turkey as of today, Minister Pakdemirli said: "Since the Truffle is naturally distributed in a very limited geography and hunted in a very small amount, its price varies between 100 euros and 1,500 euros depending on the type and quality."
THE TARGET IS 350 MILLION DOLLARS TRADE VOLUME
Emphasizing that the export figure of 16 million TL has been reached by collecting truffles which is called truffle hunting, Minister Pakdemirli said: "Many private sector investors have established truffle gardens. Today truffles have a world trade volume of 3.5 billion dollars. France provides 45% of truffles, followed by Spain with 35% and Italy and other countries with 20%. Our target is to reach a trade volume of 350 million dollars by taking 10% share in the short term in this area which will have an annual trade volume of 6 billion dollars in the next 20 years according to the estimations of economists."