BFC Georgian Agriculture Finance Bulletin. Edition #94, June 2020
irrigation systems. It is also worth noting that the government, under the Agrodiesel program, is providing farmers with 150 liters of subsidized diesel fuel per hectare.
5)
Farmers receive cards under state’s Agrodiesel program
June 20th, 2020, https://sputnik-georgia.ru/economy/20200620/248777286/
Within the framework of the state-run Agrodiesel program, cards for the purchase of diesel fuel were distributed to more than 60,000 farmer beneficiaries. Within the framework of the program, qualifying farmers will be able to use the cards to purchase diesel fuel at below market value. At the same time, both monetary funds and points will be credited to the cards, which farmers can use to also purchase fertilizers and plant protection products, chemical and biological plant protection products and seeds or seedlings as well as pay for agricultural services. The provision of diesel fuel to farmers at preferential prices is one of the points of a government effort to help revitalize villages. In total, about 200,000 farmers will be able to use the program.
6)
Government developing plan to help winemakers
June 27th, 2020, https://sputnik-georgia.ru/economy/20200627/248839163/
The government of Georgia is working on a program to help winemakers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused exports over the first five months of the year to drop 11.3% compared to last year. It remains uncertain exactly what form this assistance will take, although other government efforts to support the sector have already been made, most notably a GEL 60 million (USD 20 million) subsidy program to ensure the grape harvest is as undisturbed as possible. The plan itself is expected to be revealed in early July.
Foreign Aid 7)
ENPARD grant competition announced
June 1st, 2020, https://kalo.ge/news/view?id=8478
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced a grant competition to support agricultural initiatives within the framework of the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). The grant competition aims to improve access to finance, services and industrial technical equipment for Georgian farmers, rural households, cooperatives and small- and medium-sized enterprises, with the ultimate goal of improving competitiveness in the agricultural sector and creating better livelihoods for the rural population.
8)
Swiss dairy school to be established in Kvemo Kartli
June 12th, 2020, http://georgiatoday.ge/news/21476/Georgia%E2%80%99s-Future-Farmers-to-Benefit-from-Swiss-Experience
Over the next ten years, Georgia will graduate 300 professional farmers skilled in milk and dairy production thanks to a new vocational training institution – the Swiss Agricultural School Caucasus. Modeled on the historic Plantahof agricultural school in Switzerland, the school is set to open in 2021 Page 3
