During the international conference “Nuts of Ukraine 2022: exchange of experience with Georgia” held on November 19, 2022, in Tbilisi, the President of the Ukrainian Nut Association Gennadiy Yudin presented the main aspects of the strategy for the development of nut growing in Ukraine for the coming years. According to Yudin, Ukrainian nut growers use the experience of their Georgian colleagues, with whom a Memorandum of Cooperation has been signed.
The three main vectors of work of Ukrainian nut growers are the cultivation of walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds. A significant increase in walnut orchards has been noted in the country over the past five years, in 2018-2021. There was a Horticulture Support Program in Ukraine, under which nut growers received compensation for their costs.
A slight slowdown in growth rates is associated with the COVID-19 epidemic and Russia’s armed aggression in Ukraine. The Association expects that by 2030 the area planted with nuts will increase from 13 100 ha in 2022 to 30,000 ha: 9,000 ha of walnut plantations, 16,000 ha of hazelnuts and 5,000 ha of almonds..
Gennadiy Yudin also singled out the production of organic nuts: “Organic nuts will be grown on at least 20% of all areas planted with nuts in the country by 2030.” According to him, the first batch of organic nuts will be exported next year. The Association plans to initiate the unification of industrial orchards, where walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds are grown organically, into an Organic nut pool.
For more information: east-fruit.com