Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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Otar Shamugia: "The demand for high-quality hazelnuts is high, which drives up the price correspondingly

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, along with Mr. Giorgi Urushadze, the State Representative in the Guria region, met with hazelnut farmers in the village of Kvemo Aketi,  Lanchkhuti municipality. 

The meeting took place in a modern hazelnut storage facility "G-H-G-A Commercial" that can store up to 1,000 tonnes of hazelnuts.

During the meeting, hazelnut farmers emphasized the importance of the state programs aiming to promote the development of the hazelnut industry.

"The quality and quantity of hazelnuts have improved significantly this year.  The farmers' income greatly depends on the good quality of the hazelnuts, which must be handled, stored, and dried under appropriate conditions. The demand for high-quality hazelnuts is high, and the price is high correspondingly," the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture noted.

According to the Minister, meeting hazelnut producers and learning about current processes/challenges facing the sector is the cornerstone for elaborating further plans and promoting the development of the industry.
According to Mr. Giorgi Urushadze, the state representative in the Guria region, under the State Hazelnut Production Assistance Program, the hazelnut producers bought essential tools for maintaining their orchards, the targeted and proper use of which had a positive impact on both the quality and quantity of the harvest.

It is worth mentioning that the state has been implementing several programs over the past few years to respond to field-related challenges and support hazelnut farmers. The State Hazelnut Production Assistance Program is being implemented for the second year. The program has up to 96 thousand beneficiaries throughout the country. More than 45,000 hectares of hazelnut orchards are registered in the hazelnut cadastre. Farmers have already received about GEL 21 million in targeted assistance this year.

The Director of the Rural Development Agency, Mr. Davit Tsitlidze, and the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Hazelnut Producers' Association, Mr. Merab Chitanava, attended the meeting.