Foreign Aid

3% produces an average of ten times more than Georgia’s 41%, both in terms of quantity and monetary value.

The main reasons for the low efficiency in Georgia are the small average size of farms and the overall lack of modern technology. If Georgia is to move towards a modern agricultural sector, much work needs to be done, especially with regard to the introduction of modern technologies.

5) State Aims to Support Agritoursim in a Post-Pandemic World

February 21st, 2021, http://www.investor.ge/2021/02/15/agritourism-support-bill-gives-hope-to-struggling-industry/

A bill passed in October 2020 aims to extend targeted assistance to the agritourism sector once normalcy resumes following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill aims to create a legal framework within which the government can interact with agritourism businesses, shore up food safety, offer tax benefits to incentivize the development of rural businesses and promote the sector through marketing campaigns. An additional measure, if passed, would exempt agritourism facilities from both income and employment taxes if they have an annual turnover of less than GEL 200,000.

Foreign Aid

6) EU, FAO Support Establishment of Seed and Saplings Association

February 1st, 2021, http://www.fao.org/georgia/news/detail-events/en/c/1371758/

The Georgian Seeds and Saplings Association (GEOSSA) has been established under the EU Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia project (with the support of the European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)) to: (1) boost the production of high quality seeds and planting material in Georgia and (2) comply with the forthcoming seed certification system that is aligned with international standards. To accomplish this, GEOSSA will support private nurseries and seed producers in improving the quality of their production while also encouraging collaborations and advocating for producer interests at the government level. This, in turn, will contribute to higher quality products capable of being sold in both domestic and foreign markets.

7) SQIL Project Grant Competition Announced

February 8th, 2021, https://agroface.ge/news/1d4a5a33-0b62-404a-b879-e49593c8f021

A new grant competition has been announced under the SQIL project that will provide 50% grant cofinancing for investment projects of between USD 10,000 and USD 75,000. The grant competition aims to support the dairy and meat industries in business expansion and development activities.

8) New Project Aims to Boost Domestic Popularity of Georgian Agricultural

Products

February 9th, 2021, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/350

The Georgian Retailers Association and the Agriculture Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have teamed up to support the sale of Georgian agricultural products. More specifically, special stands featuring Georgian products will be set up at 25 stores in Tbilisi, with the goal of increasing awareness of the agricultural products among local consumers.