A Feasibility Study on the Development of Hazelnut Processing Industries in Guilan Province, North of Iran

Abstract

The development of hazelnut processing is one of major challenges of hazelnut in Guilan province, Iran. Hence, factors influencing development of these in this were explored by Delphi technique in three rounds. After consultation with academic teachers and researchers of relevant research institutes, 31 experts were selected as research panel members from Agriculture Jihad Organization and affiliates of Hazelnut Research Institute in Guilan province. The results demonstrated that specifically supporting large-scale and pioneer orchard owners to establish hazelnut processing industries, establishing wholesale purchase centers of hazelnut in context of agricultural cooperatives, and training agriculture processing industry experts of by dispatching them to countries pioneering in hazelnut processing industries were most prominent driving factors of development of hazelnut processing in Guilan as agreed upon by 98.81%, 96.68%, and 93.74% of panel members, respectively. in addition, inappropriate crop insurance coverage of hazelnut production with an agreement rate of 95.55%, the lack of a regional macro-plan for development of agriculture processing in province with an agreement rate of 94.74%, fluctuations in hazelnut market price and neglect in official monitoring of price balance in market by government, and the lack of agricultural cooperatives in region and weak cooperative culture with agreement rates of 92.32% were found to be main inhibiting factors of establishment and development of hazelnut processing in region.