BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 9
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the EU-funded European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD III), announces second cycle of Grant Competition to support agricultural initiatives in Georgia, Trend reports via the ENPARD.
The objectives of this grant initiative are to improve access to finance, services, equipment and inputs for farmers, rural households, cooperatives and other small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas.
According to the FAO, these improvements are expected to contribute to increased competitiveness of the agricultural sector and better livelihoods for people living in the rural areas.
The competition includes two categories of grants. Within the Grant Category 1 agricultural initiatives will be funded for farmers, rural households, cooperatives and SMEs whose farms and businesses operate in one of the following municipalities: Lagodekhi, Dedoplistskaro, Tetriskaro, Akhalkalaki, Borjomi, Kazbegi, Keda or Khulo. This Grant Category will support capital investments like machinery and equipment in any sector of agriculture.
The Grant Category 2 will support farmers, rural households, cooperatives and SMEs who operate in the municipalities of Akhaltsikhe, Dusheti, Khelvachauri, Shuakhevi, Marneuli, Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Gardabani, Tsalka, Ninotsminda, Aspindza, Kvareli, Gurjaani and Signaghi.
This grant category aims to support the following 5 sectors: beef (in all municipalities), dairy (in all municipalities), vegetable (in Kvareli, Gurjaani and Sighnaghi), wheat (in Sighnaghi) and potato production (in Tsalka, Ninotsminda and Aspindza).
The Grant Competition also gives an opportunity to the cooperatives registered in all the regions of Georgia to obtain co-financing.
The initiative will provide 40 percent grants and requires beneficiaries to co-invest a minimum of 60 percent of the total investment requirement.
As reported, the initiative will also aim to support specific investments with high economic, social, and environmental impact and will increase the level of support to 60 percent.
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