Bhutan business bets on hazelnuts for farming future
Summary
Bhutanese farmers are turning to hazelnuts as a high-value crop that can thrive on steep mountain slopes and help stabilize soil. Backed by Mountain Hazelnuts, the project has grown to around 9,000 families, but climate challenges and long waiting times have slowed its progress.
Key Points
- Bhutan's Mountain Hazelnuts project has expanded to about 9,000 families growing hazelnuts on 6,000 acres across the country.
- The crop is seen as suitable for Bhutan's mountainous terrain because it grows at high altitude, needs no ploughing and helps prevent soil erosion.
- Climate change, polliniser mismatches and pandemic disruptions delayed fruiting and forced the company to adjust its growing strategy.
- CEO Sean Watson says the company is aiming to become cash flow positive by 2031 and eventually reach 10,000 metric tons of production.
