State Initiatives

1) Bank of Georgia provides funding for tea plantation rehabilitation in Tkibuli

August 1st, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/tea-plantations-planted-in-tkibuli-with-the-support-of-the-bank-of-georgia

55 hectares of tea plantations have been rehabilitated in Tkibuli by Okriba Ltd. within the framework of the Agro Project and with funding from the Bank of Georgia. Bank of Georgia funding allowed the company to build a tea processing plant and purchase appropriate machine equipment for tea production. The machines also allow the company to produce dried fruit. The total cost of the Okriba Ltd. rehabilitation project was GEL 1,345,000.

2) 112,000 farmers benefit under state diesel procurement program

August 7th, 2020, https://sputnik-georgia.ru/economy/20200807/249157636/

Approximately 112,000 Georgian farmers have already received discount cards for the purchase of discounted diesel fuel within the Agrodiesel state program. So far under the program, farmers have received discount cards for the purchase of 29,000 tons of diesel fuel and have already saved an estimated GEL 3.6 million. The program gives farmers with registered agricultural land access to up to 300 liters of diesel fuel at cheaper than market value. Farmers can also use the cards to purchase fertilizers and plant protection products, chemical and biological plant protection products, seeds or seedlings and agricultural services.

3) State to subsidize purchase of apples

August 13th, 2020, https://bm.ge/en/article/according-to-gakharia-the-government-will-subsidize-purchase-of-apple-/62085/

State subsidies will be provided for the purchase of apples as a way of supporting the sector. The amount of the subsidy has been set at GEL 0.10, meaning that the total purchase price for apples will be at least GEL 0.22. The subsidy is part of a government effort to provide sectoral assistance to different fields during times of economic crisis. Similar subsidies were also used this year to support grape procurement.

4) Anti-crisis agricultural measures launched by Georgia

August 14th, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/state-to-cover-6-months-of-interest-on-agriculture-loans

The state is providing significant assistance to farmers and other agricultural entrepreneurs under its anti-crisis Care for the Village and Farmers program. In particular, the state is: providing more than Gel 23 million in subsidies, allocating 29,000 tons of diesel fuel at reduced prices, exempting amelioration fees in 2020, covering six months in interest on certain agricultural loans and partially-paying for agricultural insurance policies. More information on the Care for the Village and Farmers program and its sub-programs can be found at the arda.gov.ge website.

5) State to replace seedlings destroyed by natural disaster events

August 20th, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/2588

Farmers in Georgia whose seedlings were damaged or destroyed due to natural disasters, including grapevines, will receive new, higher-quality young plants under a new measure of the Plant the Future program. Farmers impacted by natural disasters that took place in the country after July 15, 2020 will be prioritized under this measure. The government adopted the measure in response to the fact that the