TBILISI, Georgia, August 28. Hazelnut prices are expected to rise in Georgia, and its quality is expected to improve, the Head of Regional Department at the Rural Development Agency, Lasha Shalamberidze, said, Trend reports.
The market is now dominated by hazelnuts from a prematurely harvested crop.
Last year, the volume of hazelnut exports amounted to about $115 million.
"The current prices are not final as the assembly process continues. The hazelnuts that are currently on the market and are of poor quality, that is, unripe, of course, cannot be of high quality," said Shalamberidze.
The Rural Development Agency recommends that the population first drain the nuts and then deliver them to enterprises that need high-quality hazelnuts.
"We expect that this season the volume of the hazelnut harvest will increase, and the quality will also be at a high level. This will allow us to set affordable prices for farmers," said Shalamberidze.
According to Shalamberidze, more than 90,000 farmers were involved in the state program to stimulate the production of hazelnuts. They received 500 points per hectare and exchanged them for pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural stores. The state program made it possible to provide all farmers with the necessary tools for caring for hazelnut gardens free of charge.
The state program to promote the production of hazelnuts was launched in Georgia in November 2022. According to the government's decision, individuals who own or rent hazelnut gardens with an area of 0.2 to 3 hectares are entitled to a subsidy (agropoints) in the amount of 500 lari ($192.3) per hectare. To receive financial support, hazelnut farmers had to register their plantations by January 31, 2023. Subsequently, the deadline was extended until February 17.