David Songulashvili visited a hazelnut processing plant in Zugdidi Municipality

Mr. David Songulashvili, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, visited the village of Ingiri in the Zugdidi municipality, where he toured the hazelnut processing plant of "Jima Nuts" along with Mr. Davit Verava, the State Representative of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, and Mr. Giorgi Darchia, the Director of the Rural Development Agency.

During the visit, the state officials observed the ongoing operations at the processing plant and met with local hazelnut farmers to discuss the challenges in the sector.

Minister Songulashvili emphasized that hazelnut production remains a key source of income for the population of Western Georgia. 

According to Mr. Songulashvili, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug remains a top challenge for the crop, noting that this year, the Ministry continues to take proactive measures to combat the pest; however, the activities of local farmers remain a crucial factor.

 "Jima Nuts" hazelnut processing enterprise was launched in 2020 as part of the Rural Development Agency's "Preferential Agro credit" project. The company invested over GEL 2 million to create the processing enterprise, which currently employs 35 people and can process 1,500 tonnes of unshelled hazelnuts. 
With the support of the Rural Development Agency’s technical assistance program, the plant has adopted the international food safety standard BRC. Since 2022, the company has been exporting its products, primarily to Asian and African markets.

As part of the "Preferential Agro credit" initiative, more than GEL 80 million in loans have been distributed across Georgia for hazelnut storage and processing, with the Rural Development Agency co-financing over GEL 24 million. In the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, loans totaling GEL 54.6 million have been issued, with co-financing from the Agency exceeding GEL 16.7 million. 

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has been implementing programs tailored to the needs of farmers for years. This support will continue actively in the future.