GEORGIAN HAZELNUT GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN EXPECTS BOUNTIFUL HARVEST IN 2023 WITH PROACTIVE MEASURES.

Merab Chitanava, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Georgian Hazelnut Growers Association (GHGA), is confident that a more fruitful hazelnut harvest is in store for Georgia in 2023, as long as growers take proactive measures. Chitanava noted that the hazelnut orchards in the country have weathered the winter well, and are currently experiencing favorable flowering stages and ongoing development. He emphasized the need for responsible cultivation practices, including chemical treatments for pest and disease control, fertilization, harvesting, and storage, to ensure a healthy and productive harvest.

Chitanava also pointed out that the hazelnut harvest in 2022 was of poor quality and quantity, with an estimated yield of less than 40,000 tonnes compared to the average of around 55,000 tonnes in Georgia. As a result, hazelnut supplies in the country are almost depleted, in sharp contrast to the previous year when a significant portion of the crop remained available for sale at this time.

Chitanava stressed that with proper care and management, the average yield per hectare could reach 2.5-3 tonnes, and even higher in some cases, leading to a potential harvest of over 100,000 tonnes in the country. This could bring significant income to the hazelnut sector, particularly benefiting the families of farmers.

Chitanava also emphasized the importance of maintaining consistent quality of hazelnuts to access higher-priced markets. He outlined key components of proper hazelnut orchard management, including pruning, fertilization, pest control, timely and efficient harvesting, and drying of hazelnuts to preserve their quality.

He also cautioned against using quantitative methods for assessing quality during sales, particularly a method practiced in Western Georgia which he deemed unfair and not used elsewhere in the world.

Furthermore, Chitanava’s hope for a greater hazelnut crop in 2023 is based on a combination of favorable environmental factors and the adoption of responsible and proactive production techniques by hazelnut growers. In order to guarantee a successful and lucrative hazelnut season in Georgia, proper orchard management, harvesting, and quality control are essential.

_{^{Source: east-fruit.com, Feature Photo https://www.pexels.com/photo/hazelnuts-939955/}}

18 April 2023