BFC. Georgian Agriculture Finance Bulletin. Edition #3, January 2013
9)
ENPARD IV to kick off with EUR 55 million budget
December 17th, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/3945
The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Georgia, Carl Hartzell, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, David Zalkaliani, have signed an agreement to kick off the fourth phase of the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD IV). This fourth phase will provide EUR 55 million to enhance consumer protection, promote EU exports and improve livelihoods of rural population in Georgia. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, ENPARD IV will also provide extended assistance in the food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary sector. ENPARD IV will also improve the economic and social integration of vulnerable households in disadvantaged rural regions of Georgia, including eco-migrants, conflict-affected people, ethnic minorities, Georgian returnees and migrants.
10) FAO, ADC conduct trainings on modern agriculture December 17th, 2020, http://www.fao.org/georgia/news/detail-events/en/c/1365316/
More than 30 field training sessions for approximately 200 farmers in four different communities were conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). These training sessions, conducted between August and November of this year, used different teaching approaches and demonstration plots to deliver modern agricultural knowledge and strengthen the overall capacity of Georgian farmers, with the ultimate goal of increasing productivity and income. It should be noted that FAO specialists have already begun developing a plan for 2021. This plan is likely to include hands-on trainings for farmers and local extension specialists.
Private Sector 11) Working capital financing harder to find for hazelnut exporters December 1st, 2020, https://bm.ge/en/article/nutsge-banks-cut-working-capital-financing-for-hazelnut-exporters/70085/
According to the director of the hazelnut processor NutsGe, financial institutions have reduced their working capital financing for exporters. This, combined with COVID-19 measures, the complexity of logistics and other issues, has meant that many companies, especially hazelnut processors, are finding it difficult to procure the resources necessary to maintain their businesses. At the same time, most processors remain optimistic that this is only a temporary setback and that they will be even more determined to return to normalcy in 2021.
12) Food security in Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic December 3rd, 2020, http://georgiatoday.ge/news/23236/Food-Security-%26-COVID-19-in-Georgia
The government of Georgia has been active in ensuring the food security for its population, including state subsidies on nine important food products. Despite this, the country’s food security status is still uncertain according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Most of this uncertainty, however, seems to stem from a lack of regular and/or current data on the four most important food security indicators: food availability, food access, supply stability and food utilization. Given that there is some uncertainty related to Georgia’s food security situation, FAO is recommending that policymakers focus on investments in food supply chains, address bottlenecks at the various production and sales stages, promote inter-regional trade, recognize the importance of local, domestic food
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