BFC Georgian Agriculture Finance Bulletin. Edition #97, September 2020
6)
Government prepared to subsidize food prices if necessary
September 29th, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/3009
Georgian Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili has stated that the government is prepared to subsidize food prices if necessary to support important sectors of the economy and Georgian markets. In spring of this year, the government allocated GEL 10 million to subsidize nine food products (rice, pasta, sunflower oil, flour, sugar, wheat, buckwheat, beans and milk powder and its derivatives). According to the latest inflation data, the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased 0.5% last month. At the same time, the Georgian lari (GEL) has continued to lose value against the U.S. dollar and the euro.
Foreign Aid 7)
Hazelnut processing complex opens in Kakheti
September 2nd, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/hazelnut-processing-plant-opens-in-kakheti-region
A hazelnut sorting, drying and storing complex has opened in the village of Eniseli (the Kvareli District of the Kakheti Region). The complex, operated by LLC Agri Management Group of Georgia, was constructed using GEL 1 million in investments under the United Agro Project, including GEL 370,000 in grants and GEL 300,000 in preferential credit. Additional support in its construction was provided by the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture, USAID, the FERRERO company and the Georgian Hazelnut Sector Development Project (G-HIP). The complex currently employs 16 local residents and is capable processing 50,000 tons of hazelnuts each year (serving approximately 300 farmers).
8)
EU, FAO support the growth of future Georgian agronomists
September 4th, 2020, http://www.fao.org/georgia/news/detail-events/en/c/1306160/
The European Union (EU) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), are providing future Georgian agronomists with modern agricultural knowledge and hands-on experiences by allowing young agronomists from four Georgian universities the unique chance to work and study at FAO’s agricultural demonstration plots all over Georgia. By doing so, they work closely with international and national experts as well as local farmers to enrich their knowledge of and experience in important topics such as client-smart agriculture, integrated pest management, conservation agriculture and sound agricultural practices. Students will spend several days each week at the FAO farms and greenhouses and support local farmers in setting up gardens and plots as well as organizing farmer field days.
9)
Vegetable producer gives shining example of compassion in difficult times
September 9th, 2020, http://www.fao.org/georgia/news/detail-events/en/c/1306806/
Keti Tomeishvili, a Georgian vegetable producer, is leveraging the knowledge she gained from a study tour organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to help women in her community recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. After learning how to grow culinary herbs (a high-demand product in large markets such as Russia) alongside her normal production of cucumbers and opening up new markets and revenue streams from Page 3
