State Initiatives

1) Fruit and vegetable processing center opens in Gurjaani

September 1st, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/fruit-and-vegetable-processing

A new fruit and vegetable processing center operated by Georgian Agro Product Ltd. has begun operations in the village of Chumlaki (Gurjaani municipality). The center, which cost more than GEL 4 million, was built under the framework of the United Agro Project, which provided a grant of GEL 600,000 and GEL 1.5 million in preferential credit.

2) Subsidy amount for substandard apples to increase to GEL 0.22

September 3rd, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/2717

The government of Georgia has decided to increase the subsidy amount for substandard apples from GEL 0.10 to GEL 0.22. According to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, the reasons for the increase are (1) to support farmers in handling the economic challenges caused by COVID-19 and (2) to respond to the price of apples falling in international markets.

3) Anti-crisis plan to provide new land reclamation benefits to farmers

September 5th, 2020, https://sputnik-georgia.ru/economy/20200905/249365703

As part of an effort to mitigate the economic damage caused by COVID-19 and further stimulate Georgia’s economy, the Ministry of Agriculture has developed its Caring for the Village and Farmers anticrisis plan. Under the plan, farmers can save more than GEL 2.9 million in future land reclamation fees. The plan also provides for the write-off of nearly GEL 8 million in debt owed to the Georgian Melioration Company (from between 2012 and 2020) by 42,000 individuals and legal entities.

4) National Wine Agency to employ students during grape processing season

September 7th, 2020, https://kalo.ge/news/view?id=8881

The National Wine Agency plans on employing students living in the Kakheti region as operators in local wineries during the grape processing season this year. In total, 120 students have been selected after an interview process and are receiving training from specialists at the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture at the Vintage Coordination Headquarters. Some of the selected young people already have similar work experience from previous years. Students will be distributed in wineries according to their place of residence.

5) Viticulture subsidy program receives GEL 50 million in proposals

September 23rd, 2020, https://bm.ge/en/article/government-establishes-crop

The State Procurement Agency is considering two proposals under the viticulture subsidy program to support grape producers this year. The first proposal is for the procurement of GEL 35 million worth of grapes for Akura Ltd. (a wine company subordinated to the Project Management Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture), and the second proposal is for the procurement of GEL 15 million worth of grapes for the Crop Management Company (100% owned by the National Agency for State Property). Under both proposals, the grapes will be processed into wine material or alcohol, which will then be sold by the state