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State Initiatives
June 1st, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1705
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Subsistence farmers will no longer be recorded as self-employed by the National Statistics Office of Georgia. Prior to the change, 840,000 people were considered self-employed, of which 75% were engaged in agricultural activities. Of that 75%, 70-80% were subsistence farmers. The change means that these subsistence farmers will no longer be considered self-employed. They will not, however, automatically be considered as unemployed as that requires the fulfillment of additional criteria (e.g. actively looking for work).
2) State support for winemakers amid COVID-19 pandemic
June 2nd, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1718
Georgia is already making preparations for the major grape harvest season, during which more than 100,000 tons of grapes will be picked, packed and sold locally or exported. In particular, the government is taking measures to support the winemaking sector, which has been hit hard by the impact of COVID19. Specifically, the government is supporting the winemaking sector through its anti-crisis plan, which is aimed at broad economic support throughout the country, as well as by extending its agro-credit program to cover winemakers and help them overcome COVID-19-related problems. In addition, the Prime Minister has tasked the Ministry of Agriculture with ensuring that farmers do not face any problems regarding grape storage and that the public as well as the private sector are well prepared for the harvest season.
3) Participation in state agricultural insurance program up 40%
June 2nd, 2020, http://bizzone.info/agriculture/2020/1591143091.php
The number of farmers participating in the state agricultural insurance program in Georgia has increased by 40% compared with the last year. The number of insurance policies issued for a month and a half amounted to 7,990, covering an area of 7,544 hectares. The total value of insured crops amounts to GEL 74 million (USD 23.2 million).
Under the program, 70% of the cost of a policy is covered by the state (50% for grape production), with the rest needing to be covered by farmers themselves.
4) Prime Minister highlights state support for agriculture
June 10th, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1814
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia met with farmers of the Shida Kartli region to discuss the challenges the agricultural sector faces as well as government plans to help the sector. The Prime Minister noted that agriculture is an industry in need of financial help and is a priority sector for the government. To this end, the government has allocated GEL 300 million, although the Prime Minister acknowledged that this sum is likely not sufficient given the current status of the economy. The government is also exempting 42,000 farmers from having to pay irrigation taxes in 2020 and providing up to 50% co-financing for those purchasing special agricultural equipment or erecting greenhouses or
