Private Sector

this, Keti was able to continue supporting four female employees despite rising costs and a devalue currency. But Keti went much further, she decided to allow the four employees to use one of her five greenhouses to grow cucumbers of their own. Moreover, when their first harvest comes, she has promised to help them sell it to give them additional income. She is a true example of neighbor helping neighbor and community bonding.

10) EBRD, FAO initiative to promote agritourism in Georgia

September 25th, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/ebrd-and-fao-to-assist-georgia-in-agro-tourism

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have put forth a new initiative aimed at promoting agritourism. Under the initiative, a special focus will be placed on the authenticity of a number of national and regional products as well as how they are produced. Products and producers meeting strict qualifications will be able to use a special trademark label of geographic origin and authenticity to distinguish them. As part of the initiative, small companies will also be given assistance in producing higher-quality products and penetrating new markets.

11) UNDP supporting institutional reforms to maximize rural development

September 28th, 2020, http://enpard.ge/en/eu-boosts-support-institutional-reforms-rural-development-georgia/

With the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture is undertaking a series of structural and business process changes in order to maximize the impact of the national rural development policy objectives and the European Union (EU) approximation process. This is expected to result in enhanced institutional capacities, specifically through the creation of a managing authority and paying agency for rural development as well through the development of a national training mechanism.

Private Sector

12) Sown area increased this year

September 2nd, 2020, https://commersant.ge/en/post/georgias-gross-sown-area-increased-in-2020

In 2020, the area for autumn and spring crops amounts to 208,800 hectares, an increase of 5,800 hectares from 2019. This includes 59,000 hectares for wheat and oats as well as 101,300 hectares for grain, oats, rye, barley, potatoes and vegetables.

13) Apple orchards established on 1,128 hectares under state program

September 16th, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/apple-gardens-arranged-on-1128-hectares-under-plant-the-future-program

Apple orchards have been set up on 1,128 hectares under the state-run Plant the Future program, which provided GEL 9 million in co-financing to establish the orchards. The government has been promoting the apple sector in recent years, providing subsidies for nonstandard apples. These efforts have resulted in an expected harvest of 120,000 tons this year, up 300% year-on-year.

14) More than 25,000 tons of peaches and nectarines exported

September 18th, 2020, https://commersant.ge/en/post/georgia-exported-25070-tons-of-peaches-and-nectarines

Georgia has exported more than 25,000 tons of peaches and nectarines so far this year, an 88% year-onyear increase. The largest importing countries are Russia (16,527 tons), Armenia (7,492 tons) and Azerbaijan (567 tons). Unsurprisingly, the revenue generated from peach and nectarine exports is also up (69% year-on-year), amounting to USD 21.04 million.

15) Georgian tomatoes exported for first time in decades

September 21st, 2020, https://kalo.ge/news/view?id=8936

For the first time in decades, Georgian tomatoes have reached export markets. This represents a huge milestone for tomato producers in the country; however, much work remains to be done if Georgian tomatoes are to become a long-term, viable agricultural export product. Specifically, tomato producers need to accumulate more knowledge and work to meet stringent export conditions that will ensure the delivery of quality, homogeneous products at reasonable prices. If successful, Georgian tomato producers and exporters could see international demand soar.

16) Georgia a top-5 wine-producing country

September 21st, 2020, https://commersant.ge/en/post/georgia-among-the-top-five-wine-producing-countries

Georgia has been named among the top-5 wine-producing countries in the world. This is an incredible achievement as Georgia’s wine industry exported only 23 million bottles of wine (worth USD 75 million) in 2012. That amount, as of last year, had risen to 94 million bottles (worth USD 237 million). Georgia has also increased the number of countries to which it exports wine from 40 in 2012 to 54 last year.

17) 133,000 tons of grapes harvested in Kakheti so far

September 22nd, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/2929

The grape harvest continues in the Eastern region of Kakheti, where 133,000 tons of grapes have already been processed, including 100,000 tons of Rkatsiteli grapes, 27,000 tons of Saperavi grapes and 2,000 tons of Kakhuri Mtsvane grapes. It should be noted that the government of Georgia is subsidizing this year’s grape harvest (especially Rkatsiteli and Kakhuri Mtsvane grapes) to support grape producers.

18) Georgian blueberry exports set for record year in 2020

September 24th, 2020, https://cbw.ge/economy/east-fruit-georgia-beats-blueberry-exports-record-in-2020

According to the East Fruit analytical platform, Georgia’s blueberry sector has demonstrated very strong growth in recent years and is on pace to become a top-25 blueberry exporter in the near future. According to preliminary indicators, Georgia’s blueberry export this year is 630 tons, eclipsing last year’s record of 185 tons. The primary export market for Georgian blueberries is Russia, although experts are pushing for greater market diversification.

19) Hazelnut exports up 74%

September 25th, 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/2972

So far this year, Georgia has exported 4,466 tons of hazelnuts, a 74% year-on-year increase. The top five importing countries for Georgian hazelnuts have been Germany (1,393 tons), Italy (809 tons), the Czech Republic (280 tons), Russia (268 tons) and Armenia (256 tons). In total, Georgia is expected to harvest approximately 50,000 tons of high-quality hazelnuts this year.

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.