The problem of mass hazelnut orchard dieback in Georgia is worsening, with the situation particularly alarming in Guria and Samegrelo. Around 9,000 hectares of orchards are now affected. The main cause is the bacterial disease Pseudomonas, which has also been affecting Turkey in recent years.
Merab Chitanava, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Hazelnut Growers Association, says treatment and prevention are costly, requiring around GEL 1,500 per hectare. He is calling for government support, particularly for small-scale farmers. According to Chitanava, around 7,000 hectares were affected last year, while the figure has increased by at least 20% this year. Although preventive measures have been developed, he believes the sector’s support model needs to be revised through targeted assistance and consultations with farmers.
Alongside orchard dieback, hazelnut quality and yields have deteriorated. Frequent rainfall has reduced yields by at least 20%, while the kernel recovery rate has fallen from 30–35% last year to 20–25% this year. Chitanava warns that the decline makes it harder for Georgian producers to compete in European markets, threatening the financial stability of farmers and exporters as well as Georgia’s position in global trade.
Hazelnuts are currently exported at around €7, compared with €11–14 last year. Meanwhile, the average price paid to farmers on the domestic market stands at GEL 3–5 per kilogram.
