Hunting was a long-time hobby for Gencay Tunç, a businessman from Istanbul. Every time he shot a boar during his hunts, the question “How can I add economic value to this?” haunted him. He eventually decided to set up the first integrated pork processing plant in Turkey.

He bought around 12 acres of land for $350,000 in Mengen, Bolu, a place renown for its highly skilled cooks. Tunç was able to obtain his permit and there was no problem with regards to official procedures. He was even able to take a loan from the World Bank for his project. But he came across another problem: The Bolu population and the cooks in Mengen.

  The pork processing plant has created a controversy in Bolu. Those who are against it are led by politicians, who argue that the facility is “haram” (forbidden) in Islam. The famous Mengen cooks also argue that a pork processing facility in their town might have a destructive effect on their fame and image.

  The Bolu population is making every effort to discourage Tunç from opening the plant. Negative reaction is so fierce that Tunç is receiving serious threats; in fact, some of them are death threats. But Tunç is determined to carry on with his project. “Every part of the pig is being used. Buyers are ready. It is a very profitable business. Why should I ever give it up,” he asks.

Also frog legs and snails:

  Tunç's Bolu, Mengen plant is not limited to pork processing only, in terms of being marginal. Tunç is planning to process frog legs and snails as well as pork in his plant.

  A hunter of 35 years, Tunç is a businessman with investments in plastics and textile. He has selected Mengen for its potential in wild life. His project was going just fine until a local newspaper reported on it, sparking the fierce debate. 

  “Nobody should get involved in false heroic nationalism. These kinds of ridiculous reactions will make us go backward. Just by declaring that it is “haram,” we cannot deprive Bolu and Mengen of such good profit,” stressed Tunç. He reiterates that pork is an unused wealth, an unused commodity in Turkey.

Not a pig farm:

  Tunç notes that the government amended the Food Code in July 2006 to harmonize with European Union regulations to include pigs in livestock. Ziraat bank is issuing credits for this business, Tunç adds.

  “Our farmer cannot make ends meet. The urban population is mostly unemployed. The boars are damaging the fields. Most of the hunted boars are left behind or thrown into rivers, causing a threat to nature. We will not raise pigs on a farm. We will collect boars from hunters with licenses and process their meat. We plan to export $1 million worth of products annually. At least 25 people will be employed in our plant,” he explained. 

  Mengen cooks fear that if not adequately controlled, pork would illegally find its way into the domestic market. The plant might also pollute the nearby river, they argue.

  “Pork could just as well be mixed with veal meat and sold. The fame of Mengen will be gone,” some speculate.

  The head of the provincial branch of the pro-Islamist Saadet (Happiness or Contentment) Party, Abdullah Uzun, said they were against the plant. “Mengen is famous for its cuisine. Our cooks set the standard for Turkish cuisine. The best cooks come out of Mengen. Now pork is trying to be added to this culture. The whole idea of setting a pork plant in Mengen is an attempt to destroy this culture. It is known that sometimes horse or donkey meat is illegally mixed into cattle meat. Now, pork is going to replace them,” he claims.

  Mengen Mayor Yurdakul Eröz supports the initiative. “The plant will create job opportunities. The production will be according to international standards. There will be no problems. Boar that is hunted all over Turkey, not only in Bolu, will be processed here. Not only pork, but also other exotic products such as snail and frog legs will also be processed here. It is unfair to criticize this facility. They will not go out to hunt for boar; they will collect the already hunted boars.”

Istanbul has 11 pig farms:

  There are 25 registered pig farms in Turkey. Some of them are only used as slaughterhouses. These slaughterhouses do not have integrated processing facilities. There are also many unregistered farms, operating illegally. The number of unregistered farms is estimated to be over 100. The pig farms are in Eskişehir, Çorum, Kastamonu, Manisa, Kayseri, Mersin, Bilecik, Erzincan, Adana, Bursa, Gökçeada, İzmir, Kütahya and Istanbul. Istanbul has the most pig farms, with 11.

METİN CAN
ISTANBUL – Referans