Hazelnut Sector In Azerbaijan PDF Download

Azerbaijan’s agriculture sector is vital to the economy and hazelnuts represent a valuable product. In recent years, the hazelnut sector has shown a significant increase in production areas, but the dominating traditional, low-mechanized practices have hindered the increase in production yields and volumes. Another issue is the risk of aflatoxin contamination, which reduces the quality of hazelnuts and poses serious health risks. Governmental programmes are currently aiming to promote intensified production, support the mechanization of the sector, and provide solutions to the aflatoxin problem. The hazelnut value chain can also be a source of bioenergy, by utilizing the shells, husks, and pruning residues generated along the chain. To promote the development of sustainable pathways for the utilization of these residues, it is vital to assess their availability, as well as the viability of their conversion for specific energy needs. The report aims to evaluate the potential to produce sustainable bioenergy from the residues generated along the hazelnut value chain in Azerbaijan. A techno-economic assessment of the possible bioenergy pathways considered viable in the country’s context was conducted, based on the available volumes of hazelnut residues that can be mobilized. Moreover, the potential of using renewable energy interventions to tackle aflatoxin contamination along the value chain was assessed. Estimates of the level of investment required to scale up the identified technologies are also provided, as are the potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions that might be achieved by deploying the identified technologies.