7 minute read
State Initiatives
1) Georgia to conduct systematic registration of 1.2 million hectares of land
May 10th, 2020, https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/za-tri-goda-v-gruzii-provedut
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Over the next three years, the government is planning to systematically register 1.2 million hectares of land. The land registration project will be implemented in three phases, starting in several mountainous regions and then expanding to cover all regions of the country. Georgia has been working to expand land registration since 2016 and has seen some success in this regard, especially with simplified procedures. Land registration will enable easier and less-costly logistical processes for the government and private entities, making it much more efficient to provide aid when necessary and contact the right person(s).
May 12th, 2020, https://mepa.gov.ge/En/News/Details/18941
The Ministry of Agriculture is renewing the Agricultural Support Program for another year in order to further promote primary production in the country. The program includes a GEL 10 million co-financing component designed to help agricultural producers procure agricultural machinery and other resources necessary to modernize production techniques in the country. The amount of co-financing available under the program is up to 50% of the total cost of investment and up to GEL 50,000. The program also includes a GEL 1.5 million technical assistance component to further promote high-quality production. Eligible beneficiaries include registered natural or legal persons engaged in agricultural production.
3) Georgia continues efforts to increase uptake of agricultural insurance
May 12th, 2020, https://mepa.gov.ge/En/News/Details/18943
The government of Georgia, in continuation of its efforts begun in 2014, has announced a three-year agricultural insurance project that will provide up to 70% co-financing for small farms in order to encourage increased uptake of available agricultural insurance policies in the country. This covers policies that insure farmers against hail, floods, hurricanes and autumn frosts. In 2020, the budget for this project will be GEL 9 million, which is enough to cover 15,000 policies and 12,000 hectares. Eligible beneficiaries are those that are natural or legal person who own or use agricultural land that is registered in the National Public Registry.
4) Government anti-crisis plan for agriculture unveiled
May 13th, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/details-of-anti-crisis-plan-on-agriculture
In response to the COVID-19 crisis the government has passed a series of anti-crisis measures designed to ensure the long-term security and safety of the country. For the agricultural sector, this plan calls for giving every farmer with registered land direct financial aid in the form of GEL 200 per hectare as well as a guarantee to be able to purchase 150 liters of diesel at a price of GEL 1 cheaper than market rates. Additionally, farmers will be fully exempt for having to pay irrigation fees this years and will have access to increased co-financing support for the procurement of agricultural machinery.
5) Government plan to inform farmers about available support programs
May 16th, 2020, https://mepa.gov.ge/En/News/Details/18952
"We must inform farmers about the benefits envisaged by the agricultural anti-crisis plan " stated Levan Davitashvili
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili and Prime Minister's Adviser in Regional Affairs, Sozar Subari met with the State Representatives.
‘’The agricultural anti-crisis plan " Taking Care for Village and Farmers " is a complex plan, thereby, it is important to inform our residents in a proper and correct manner. Farmers must be aware, that new opportunities were created for them, which are included in the state support programs, the aid package, that Georgian government has developed to overcome the crisis.
These programs give good opportunities to each farmer to receive more benefits from the state programs, that ultimately will contribute to the agricultural development , increase agricultural production and ensure food security in the country "- said the Minister.
Levan Davitashvili noted, that local self-government will play awareness about the anti-crisis plan. a great role in increasing farmers
Relevant services together with the state representatives will work with all links, who will inform farmers about the state programs and benefits envisaged by the Agricultural Anti-Crisis Plan.
Sozar Subari noted, that it is important to tackle existing challenges with dignity and minimize the impact of Covid 19 crisis on each person.
" Serious assistance was provided for agricultural development in recent years. Moreover, to overcome the crisis caused by Covid-19, the aid package has been increased, which in fact is targeted at all people who live and work in rural areas. It is necessary to provide farmers with the maximum amount of information about the programs envisaged by the agricultural anti-crisis plan, whereby, the active engagement of all branches of local self-government is of utmost importance ” Sozar Subari said.
The participants brought forward priority issues related to the agricultural and farming activities taken in the regions.
May 20th, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/liberty-joins-the-agricultural-land-owners-stimulation-program
As of today, more than 200,000 farmers will receive a Liberty "Agro Card" within the framework of the state program to stimulate agricultural land owners and will benefit from the new program throughout the country.
From May 20, Liberty Bank's active account beneficiaries will gradually start accruing points for the Agricultural Land Owners Stimulation Program and the process of procurement and distributing Agro Cards by Liberty.
All individuals and legal entities that own or co-own a 0.25-hectare to 10-hectare plot of agricultural land registered in the public registry will receive a subsidy under the $ 37 million program. According to the program, farmers will be entitled to the corresponding points of the subsidy amount (1 point = 1 GEL) on Liberty Bank's "agro cards" at 0.25 hectares - 50 points, at 1 hectare - 200 points, at 10 hectares - 2,000 points.
In order to receive a card, the farmer must apply to Liberty Bank. Information about the amount of the subsidy and the date of receipt of the card can be found on the website myliberty.ge. The corresponding points of the accrued subsidy can be spent by holding the "Agro Card" post-terminal, in the specialized shops of licensed agricultural goods and in the Agricultural Logistics and Services Company Ltd. Holders of unregistered land until December 31, 2020, have the opportunity to register the land in advance, after which they will be able to participate in the program.
The program will start on May 20, 2020. Individuals who own land will be able to accrue points on ‘agro cards’ in stages from June 1 and will be able to use the accrued points until May 20, 2021.
"We are pleased to be able to offer our customers a new product today - 'agro cards', which will be awarded a subsidy under the state program" Stimulating Agricultural Land Owners ". Liberty has the widest network and is closest to farmers. This program helps farmers to overcome the crisis caused by the new coronavirus pandemic in the country. For their safe service, we have created a special platform myliberty.ge, where it will be possible to get the information provided about this program. - said Irakli Abashidze, Deputy Director of Small and Medium Business at Liberty Bank.
7) State agro-diesel program has helped over 5,000 farmers
May 22nd, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1615
Over 5,000 farmers have received a total of 2.7 million liters of diesel at a rate of GEL 1 cheaper than market price under the state’s agro-diesel program. The program has a total budget of GEL 40 million this year and is expected to be continued in the future years as the government considers it one of the most important subsidy programs it operates. To qualify, a farmer must cultivate between 0.25 and 100 hectares of agricultural land.
8) Fight against stink bug to begin earlier this year
May 25th, 2020, https://sputnik-georgia.ru/economy/20200525/248571255/
Experts are urging Georgian farmers to begin pest control measures earlier this year as it has been discovered that the brown marmorated stink bug is already laying eggs. The information that the bug is already in the reproductive part of its cycle is thanks to monitoring efforts taking place in Western Georgia. Experts further warn farmers to take this seriously as, although the number of the pest has been reduced from years past, it is capable of causing massive damage to crops (especially hazelnuts) at any time.
The pest first appeared in 2015, when it destroyed massive amounts of hazelnut and citrus harvests. Since then, the government has developed special measures to combat the pest, including informational campaigns, full-scale monitoring and chemical treatment. These efforts have been largely successful and are now considered as an example for the rest of the world.
9) State program to provide co-financing to modernize the dairy industry
May 25th, 2020, https://kalo.ge/news/view?id=8459
A state program to support the modernization of Georgia’s dairy industry as well as increase its access to markets has been launched. Under the program, co-financing of between GEL 8,000 and GEL 195,000 is being made available to individuals, legal entities other registered organizations (including cooperatives) to start, expand or modernize milk production, dairy processing, milk collection, feed production and/or veterinary capacities. Program funds can only be used to purchase fixed assets and may not be used to purchase real estate or cattle. The program is targeting younger agricultural
