International Programme Supports Georgian Hazelnut Farmers to Prevent Crop Loss and Aflatoxin Risks

Georgian hazelnut producers in the eastern Kakheti region are adopting improved drying technologies and food safety practices through the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD IV) to prevent crop losses caused by aflatoxin contamination.

The initiative is funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Under the programme, farmers receive food safety training alongside matching grants to procure modern post-harvest equipment, such as hazelnut dryers and vertical elevators.

Aflatoxin, a toxic chemical produced by fungal infections when nuts remain damp on the ground, in husks, or during storage, presents a major risk to the agricultural sector. Because the toxin cannot be easily detected visually, proper and rapid drying methods are critical. Contaminated batches are deemed unfit for human consumption and must be destroyed, resulting in significant financial and resource losses for producers.

Nuts represent a major component of Georgia's agricultural economy. According to Georgia’s National Statistics Office, hazelnuts and other nuts ranked as the country's seventh largest export commodity in 2025, with more than 18,000 tonnes exported for a total value exceeding USD 165 million.

Growers participating in the programme, such as Shete Kemoklidze in the Kvareli municipality, are utilizing new machinery to manage post-harvest risks and improve resource efficiency. Kemoklidze's drying operation utilizes discarded hazelnut shells as fuel for the dryer's furnace, while broken kernels are processed into oil and flour. In addition to handling their own harvests, grant recipients are extending commercial drying services to neighboring smallholders to prevent wide-scale crop exposure to damp conditions and aflatoxin contamination.

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