📋 Tender Overview
Contract partner: Working group - Pakka Foundation
Country: Georgia Contract type: Economic partnership Project start: 01.07.2025 Funding amount: € 649.094,45 End: 30.06.2028
SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Overall goal
The project aims to enhance the competitiveness of the hazelnut, and almond sectors in Kakheti, and Samegrelo by improving post-harvest management and storage methods, and promoting sustainable organic practices.
Expected results
By the end of the project, the nut farming market system in Kakheti, and Samegrelo will have undergone a fundamental transformation, addressing the specific needs of local farmers. Expected results include:
- 680 tons of nuts (in-shell) produced with European organic certifications.
- 420 tons of nuts (in-shell) produced under climate-smart practices.
- 300 smallholder farming families participated in workshops.
- 150 on-site technical consultations took place to support farmers in the field.
- 1 new association established to advise and support farmers on organic practices, aiming for premium certification.
- 10% reduction in diseases affecting hazelnuts and almonds at harvest, decreasing losses to 10% of the harvest due to improved harvesting methods.
- 10% reduction in food waste, facilitated by rapid hulling of almonds and improved storage techniques.
- Relationships established with 5 local and international companies that offer premiums for sustainably produced hazelnuts.
- 400 tons of nuts (in-shell) sold.
Target group / Beneficiaries
The project primarily targets small and medium farmers in Kakheti’s nut industry, who currently lack access to processing facilities and rely on third parties for harvesting, hulling, and shelling. This dependence limits their ability to add value to their products. The project aims to establish post-harvest facilities, enabling these farmers to improve processing capabilities, enhance product quality, and access higher-value markets, including certified organic and Fair Trade segments in Europe.
Additionally, the project supports over 300 farming families in Kakheti, and Samegrelo in adopting climate-smart farming practices and actively promotes women’s and youth participation, particularly in nut processing, where value addition and income opportunities are greater. By engaging local institutions and industry players, the initiative seeks to integrate these sustainable practices into formal policies, fostering long-term transformation in the nut farming sector.
Activities
The planned measures of the project include:
- Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture: Supporting nut farmers in transitioning to climate-resilient, organic farming practices through in-field technical assistance.
- Establishing 1 new hazelnut association (in Kakheti) to advise and support farmers on organic practices in view of premium certification.
- Increasing Productivity and Competitiveness: Integrating mechanization into agricultural operations, with a focus on optim
