Private Sector

The project is expected to begin next year, once the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has relaxed.

9) Seedling nursery opened in Marneuli

August 26th, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/agriculture-minister-and-usaid-mission-director-open-mza-chitili-seedling-nursery

A new seedling nursery, Mza Chitili, has opened in the village of Azizkedi (Marneuli district) thanks to financial and technical support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The nursery is important for the development of high-quality seedlings and cultures in the country, which is central to the further development of the agricultural sector as a whole. Mza Chitili also benefited from state financial assistance under the United Agro Project.

Total investments in the nursery amounted to GEL 2.8 million, including GEL 1 million in preferential agricultural credit and GEL 365,000 in grants.

Private Sector

10) Bank of Georgia launches new loan product for almond, olive orchards

August 4th, 2020, https://netgazeti.ge/news/472086/

The Bank of Georgia is launching a new agro-loan for the cultivation of almond or olive groves. Loans are available for the purchase of fixed assets and for working capital required for the cultivation and maintenance of a garden for a period of four years. The maximum loan term is 120 months. The loan also includes assistance in contracting with local and international buyers in advance. It is also important to note that the loan is subject to preferential and grant conditions offered by the Implement the Future and Cheap Agro Credit programs.

11) Snail farm to be created in Western Georgia

August 10th, 2020, http://bizzone.info/agriculture/2020/1597105120.php

The Bank of Georgia is financing an Icebergs LLC project to create a snail farm in the town of Abasha (Western Georgia). The farm is expected to be capable of producing up to seven tons of snails per year, which will then be sold for medicinal purposes as well as a delicacy.

12) Plentiful and high-quality corn harvest expected

August 10th, 2020, https://mepa.gov.ge/En/News/Details/19047

A high-quality and plentiful corn harvest is expected this year thanks to efforts undertaken by the National Food Agency, particularly measures to combat the Asian stink bug. In particular, the National Food Agency assisted corn farmers in implementing the cold spraying of expert-recommended pesticides. It is important to note that these treatments were all carried out in compliance with safety rules and procedures.

Georgia’s fight against invasive pests and diseases in recent years has been used as a worldwide example for how to eradicate such threats to agriculture.

13) More education needed for agricultural sector development

August 13th, 2020, http://georgiatoday.ge/news/22073/

The sustainable development of agriculture is one of the key factors to strengthening Georgia’s economy. However, good climatic conditions and rich natural resources alone are not enough for the development of agriculture. Rather, the agricultural sector also needs strong catalyzers to create more professionals with experience, energy and innovative ideas. This includes strong educational programs to advance new ideas and promote the sector as a whole as one that can provide a sustainable living. Although other measures are also needed (i.e. better export opportunities), experts believe that strong and all-encompassing educational programs will give agricultural entrepreneurs the skills necessary to overcome other obstacles.

14) Record-breaking hazelnut harvest expected this year

August 14th, 2020, https://mepa.gov.ge/En/News/Details/20054

The hazelnut harvest is under way, and Georgian producers are expecting a record-breaking harvest of between 50,000 tons and 55,000 tons this year, which is a significant improvement over last year’s harvest. In recent years, the hazelnut production chain has been organized in a smooth manner, resulting in better production. Several government officials commented that the hazelnut production chain should serve as a model for how agriculture should be developed in the country.

15) Almond processing plant to be built near Tbilisi

August 19th, 2020, http://bizzone.info/agriculture/2020/1597881392.php

The Georgian-Israeli company Bar-Lev Management, which has been planting and cultivating almond orchards in Georgia since 2018, is planning to build an almond processing plant in Lilo, a suburb of Tbilisi. The capacity of the enterprise will be 3,000 tons of almonds per year, which corresponds to the harvest of a garden of 500 hectares. It is expected to employ 20-25 people.

The cost for the construction of the plant has been projected at EUR 1.5 million.

16) Cattle, pig and chicken numbers increase

August 24th, 2020, http://bizzone.info/agriculture/2020/1598303768.php

The number of cattle in Georgia increased by 2.6% in the second quarter of 2020. At the same time, the number of chickens increased by 16.9%, and the number of pigs increased by 1.8%. The number of sheep and goats decreased by 12.1%.

Milk and meat production also increased in the second quarter, by 0.1% and 5.8% respectively. Egg production dropped 1.4%.

17) Grape harvest season under way in Kakheti

August 26th, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/2640

The grape harvest season is picking up in the Kakheti region, where 200 tons of grapes have already been processed. This year’s harvest in the Kakheti region is expected to amount to approximately 300,000 tons of grapes. It is important to note that there are already 50 wine producing companies registered at a grape harvest coordination center that will be involved in different stages of the grape harvesting process.

The volume of grapes processed during the 2019 harvest in Georgia reached 271,000 tons, which was the highest harvest volume over the last 30 years.

18) More than 23,000 tons of peaches, nectarines exported so far this year

August 26th, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/2645

Georgia has exported 23,109 tons of peaches and nectarines so far this year, 85% more than at this same time last year. The main countries of export are Russia (14,906 tons), Armenia (7,202 tons), Azerbaijan (567 tons), Kazakhstan (113 tons), Ukraine (99 tons), Moldova (90 tons), Poland (74 tons) and Slovenia (57 tons).

19) Georgian wine quality still an issue

August 27th, 2020, https://commersant.ge/en/post/companies-will-make-fake-wine

The quality of Georgian wine still remains a problem as many Georgian wines suffer from being made from bad grapes and/or being “falsified” to artificially increase quantities. In light of the pandemic, there are concerns that wine quality may drop further as some producers look for ways to cut prices and, therefore, be more marketable to populations with less disposable income. Moreover, there is a belief among some experts that the government is tacitly complicit in this as it is more interested in ensuring farmers can sell their harvest than controlling wine quality. Experts believe that this issue needs to be resolved for Georgia’s wine sector to further develop.

Prepared by Business & Finance Consulting (BFC) www.bfconsulting.com Articles are taken directly from local sources without any fact-checking; they are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. Business & Finance Consulting (BFC)’s editing is limited to providing a short summary in English of the texts, highlighting the main points of the original articles. All rights reserved by the authors. BFC takes no responsibility and does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, or assume any responsibility whatsoever for the content, accuracy, and reliability, or completeness of any of the articles.