In order to seek rational ways of working in the production and sale of hazelnuts, one of Türkiye’s major export products, the FIRST NATIONAL HAZELNUT CONGRESS was convened in Ankara on Thursday, October 10, 1935, under the auspices of the Minister of Economy, as the office was then called.
Two days later, Law No. 2834, entitled the LAW ON AGRICULTURAL SALES COOPERATIVES AND UNIONS AND THE MODEL CONTRACT OF AGRICULTURAL SALES COOPERATIVES, was adopted and entered into force on November 2, 1935. On this basis, 3 years and 8 months after the enactment of the law;
Cooperatives were established. These 5 cooperatives established, on July 28, 1938, the Union known by its short name FISKOBIRLIK – the Hazelnut Agricultural Sales Cooperatives Union. Pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Law on Agricultural Sales Cooperatives and Unions No. 4572, the expression “Limited Liability” was added to the titles of the cooperatives and Unions.
Pursuant to the provisions of the aforementioned Law and the Articles of Association, Fiskobirlik and its affiliated Cooperatives carried out their hazelnut purchases and sales on their own behalf and account until 1964; however, from that date until 1994, by virtue of the Council of Ministers Decrees issued, they bought and sold hazelnuts directly or indirectly on behalf of the Treasury. From 1994 to 2000, hazelnut purchases were made using loans from the DFIF. In 2002, hazelnuts were again purchased on behalf of the Treasury by a Council of Ministers Decision. Since 2003, it has carried out its hazelnut purchases and sales entirely on its own behalf and account.
Fiskobirlik and its affiliated Cooperatives carried out their activities in accordance with the Law on Agricultural Sales Cooperatives and Unions No. 2834 from 28.07.1938 to 30.04.1985, No. 3186 from 30.04.1985 to 16.06.2000, and No. 4572 from 16.06.2000 onwards, as well as the Articles of Association issued by the Council of Ministers on the basis of these Laws and the Cooperatives Law No. 1163. Pursuant to Provisional Article 1/A of Law No. 4572, the activities it carried out within the scope of the Restructuring program were terminated as of 03.01.2006 (as it was removed from the Restructuring program), and all cooperative activities conducted after that date have been carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Laws and the Articles of Association.
Laws No. 6455 and 6456, which contain significant amendments to the Law on Agricultural Sales Cooperatives and Unions No. 4572, entered into force; the Articles of Association of Agricultural Sales Cooperatives (T.S.K.) and Agricultural Sales Cooperative Unions, redrafted pursuant to the relevant articles of these laws, were published in the Official Gazette No. 28966 dated April 8, 2014, and the adaptation procedures were completed by the Union and the Cooperatives.
OUR MISSION;
In the growing hazelnut and hazelnut products sector, to deliver the products needed by domestic and international markets to the end consumer with an approach of safe, high-quality food; to ensure that growers’ agricultural and ecological resources are used effectively, efficiently and sustainably; and to develop and implement initiatives that raise growers’ income and living standards.
OUR VISION;
With the institutional experience and market foresight it has gained since the early years of our Republic, and without compromising the reputation for safe and high-quality food it has earned in the hazelnut and hazelnut products sector, to remain permanently an organization whose purpose is to serve in delivering products to consumers, with our growers, employees, dealers and suppliers working together in a spirit of teamwork and in adherence to the principles of cooperativism.
