Hazelnuts are popular with their health benefits. The number one nut for folate and one of the most nutrient-dense foods. They are considered a superfood, but most importantly, they are delicious. They contain different types of vitamins, minerals, nutrients as magnesium, Vitamin E, iron, fiber and play a vital role in keeping our organism healthy and in a good shape. Isn't it amazing how something so small can hold so much power? We use them in cooking, as medicine, food to feed our body, mind
Regional
Bulgaria
The hazelnut trees are located in the village Panitsovo, Bourgas.
Mainly rural
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
2022-10-20
As an individual in partnership with other persons
First name: Nikoleta Last name: Gocheva Gender: Female Nationality: Bulgaria Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Bulgaria, city Burgas, Slaveykov Town: Bourgas Postal code: 8000 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 89 677 5674 E-mail:ngocheva43@gmail.bg
In the year of severe economic crisis, due to the pandemic situation in the world and our country, I suggested to my family to participate in a financed agricultural program of the ‘State Fund Agriculture’.
Our family owns agricultural land and a house in a mountainous area. There are young people of minority origin who wish to work and to integrate. At the same time, the region has a rich historical past, ancient Bulgarian traditions and customs have been preserved. To the present days, the region has conserved Bulgarian vocabulary related to cattle breeding, lifestyle and culture.
Over the years, the localities have been subjected to mining raids and later to extreme poisoning of the land by unscrupulous tenants, using the wrong plant protection products, such as herbicides, pesticides, exceeding the maximum permissible values.
The project that already been implemented, is for the planting of hazelnuts.
For this purpose, I inquired with the institutions that offer planting material. I looked for family friends from Turkey for more information about the most – sought-after variety hazelnuts. I coordinated my decision with the Municipal Office ‘Agriculture’ in the city of Nessebar, as well as the Regional Directorate ‘Agriculture and Forests’ in the city of Bourgas, where I received information about the measures to which I can participate, as well as guidelines for preparing my ‘Business Plan’. Today, the plantations are already bearing fruit. Every year, from the "Agricultural fund", they photograph the hazelnuts, as proof that they exist.
How it all started?
It all started when my father lost his job. It was a difficult period, but a friend of my father told him about hazelnuts. The whole family liked the idea and then we planted the first trees. It's a real joy, the feeling of looking back and seeing what you've created. A life rooted deep in the soil. When I'm under the hazelnut tree in the garden I feel calm, safe, and connected to nature.
Environment
Financial support
Employment (minority societies)
Cultural inheritance
Awareness
The aims of the project are mainly for protection and conservation of the environment, financial support for the families, increasing the employment for the minority societies, increasing the tourist potential for better preservation of the natural and culture heritage and raising the awareness of the interested parties.
The concrete goals are achieved through municipal support, team work with the direct participants (my family, local community). Consultations with the Agricultural chamber, for producing quality production. Buying of plant material from hothouse “Hazelnut garden’ Vladimir Pavlov - Agricultural producer with address in the city of Shumen, 4”Belokamen” street. Communication with other firms and other agricultural producers within the country. Buying of cleaning technique.
Ecological processing of the agricultural land. Planting the trees – terracing and reinforcing of the land. Building of temporary shelters. Buying of the planting material as per preliminary research for the most useful hazelnut species, that are durable to the regional climate – which is Black sea coastal, with Mediterranean character, when the raining period is of its peak, the severe cold conditions as well and the summer temperature risings – the summer is warm, without any significant heats, conditioned to the continental air masses.
Conducting a contract for tractor processing, organizing of brigades for trenching, cutting, whitewashing, picking, cleaning and cracking the shell. (during the first yield, it will be made by hand, and then the following yields and incomes, a machinery will be rented). Within the financing from the ‘Agricultural State Fund’ will be purchased the relevant machinery for processing.
Providing a market. Building of farm building.
As per the final result is the production at the third year and development of the market, which is considered as hardship for the small producer.
In the region where the tree plants are located, there are families that are in bad material and social condition. To all of them, I will provide job activities that do not demand specific knowledge (whitewashing, picking, peeling). All of them are originating from minorities, skilful and hardworking, they are happy with all the work they have been provided with. The product that we receive is useful, with high quality and they can eat it during their regular breaks. Besides, they are listening with interest about the historical past of the lands and Thracians that inhabited them. Тhey have the opportunity to learn something new and break the stereotypes that exist in Bulgarian society.
All that I achieved is based on consultations, cooperation with institutions. Everybody that would like to grow hazelnut plantations, has transparent access to all the institutions of the State Agricultural Fund, municipal Agricultural services, agronomical laboratories, free of charge consultations with specialists. Everybody has the right to receive informational bulletins of the State Agricultural Fund, that are giving instructions and knowledge for the process during each month of its growth.
The product that we grow is wanted by country and foreign citizens (buyers) but only on the cooperative trade market. One of the reasons for that is that we do not have yet large produced qualities, as well as combined machinery for peeling, which are hardship for us in order to produce the end product. And the hand work is very labor-intensive.
The citizens included in the project are locals. They are happy to take part in the activities as the unemployment of the region is very high. We are insuring conditions for safe process, medical person during the work process.
The work from May till Autumn – ploughing, trenching, whitewashing, packaging, picking and autumn plough. Acres, numbers of trees that are influencing the bio diversity and are presenting the green areas, which nowadays are extremely decreasing as per the illegal wood cutting and stripping of the mountainous areas. Today, in the region there are many German families inhabiting the regions, that are helping and interested in the culture of our country and its history. Some of them are also interested in buying land and agriculture.
It is a long process that requires time and finances. A project that inspires people and restores nature. The resulting product is rich in nutrients that are needed by every individual, as well as by children. It has been proven that if we consume hazelnuts regularly, but in moderation, we improve blood pressure and anti-aging effects.
Wealth for future generations.
Joining with long-lasting nut shell producers to the Aitos region, for exchanging experience and joint support, creating contacts and relations in the region.
Engaging all the institutions. Each support by "the State Agricultural Fund" is made with consultants from the ‘Water Chamber Bourgas’, whereas instructions are given for development of the project, verification and approval. There are periodical verifications made to the places by the Land commission – city of Nessebar (municipal service) as well as the national agricultural agency city of Yambol. Processing and maintenance. Measuring the land for harmful pesticides. All these activities are free of charge. Support by local companies is presented as well.
The added value is that the shells that remain are not thrown away, but recycled. There are businesses interested in buying shells.
My life – destiny and choice, my human rights, my Bulgarian attitude, humanity (civil virtues), Bulgarian dignity, my home and environment, how to find work , how to do business
My useful disciplines for developing of this project are Geography (local area city of Panitzovo), Foreign languages (for participation in foreign projects), History (cultural heritage), Economics, Chemistry, Biology. This project is interacting with my life in Bulgaria and my development – my destiny and my choice. My human rights as a Bulgarian. My home and environment. Knowledge of how to start business project and to insure job for the needy ones.
The results from this project is that the lands have been verified, legalized on my father’s authority, they are also trenched and developed, and planted. The trees are subjected to plant protection. Receiving of a quality product. We are applying for the project as for it could develop, exceed, and gain the ability to replace hand working with buying machinery for that purpose – for peeling and cracking. Building of base for storage with ventilation and when the production is grown enough – for producing of hazelnut Tahini. More trees to beautify the village.
Promoting areas and helping to settle other people or producers.
Our idea is to develop our own species, apart from buying them, because the market is full of fake species. Making different approaches and finding a healthier way for growing the trees. The species to be implemented to our climate and smoothly become bio species – without fertilizing, to build up our own hothouses.
For achieving our goal we used methods that primarily depend on our research about climate . Study of the climate, maximum and minimum temperature during the seasons, air humidity, amount of water in the soil, soil content (the zigzag method). We need soil with a higher sand content that does not contain water. We need patience and time, care for the trees, and constant observations. Self-education in the field and motivation.
The project can also be located in other places in the country. For example, “Strandja mountain”. It can be fully applied, because of the humidity, the soil content is the same, and the altitude.
Also in the field of education, universities where students can practice, explore and propose different solutions, also imagine differents methods convenient for the region.
We are challenged by the criteria for development in Bulgaria as an average citizen – these are not suitable. On one hand is the family needing care, on the other, the work and wage that is invested in the hazelnut plants.
Other global problem is the economic growth and development. The inflation and raising of the prices of the recourses. One of the most important resources for development of hazelnuts is water, that is transported from the village to the plant gardens. The drought and the quarantine, that stopped all the working force.
