BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16
By Tamilla Mammadova - Trend:
Farmers in 22 municipalities of Georgia will have the opportunity to obtain co-financing under a 3.2 million lari (about $1 million) grant program offered by the European Union (EU), the Agriculture Ministry of Georgia and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the purchase and installation of modern drip irrigation systems, Trend reports referring to the ministry.
Until 30 May, the Emergency Response Program is open to all farmers who want to grow vegetables, roots, tubers and berries in Georgia with drip irrigation technologies.
The grants can be obtained by farmers in the municipalities of Lagodekhi, Kvareli, Gurjaani, Dedoplistskaro, Signagi, Tetritskaro, Marneuli, Bolnisi, Tsalka, Dmanisi, Gardabani, Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Aspindza, Kazbegi, Dusheti, Keda, Khelvachauri, Khulo and Shuakhevi.
The program will cover 75 percent of the total investment, including installation cost for drip irrigation solutions. The grant amount for each beneficiary is limited up to $5,000 (equivalent in Georgian lari).
"We are still on time to support the Georgian farmers during this season, and the installation of irrigation solutions will allow them to increase their production of vegetables and other crops, and to ensure that Georgia will better cope with any negative impact that may come as a result of the COVID pandemic”, said Javier Sanz Alvarez, coordinator of FAO-EU Projects in Georgia.
Georgian Deputy Agriculture Minister Khatia Tsilosani said that the Georgian government is collaborating with the EU and partner organisations to support the continuous progress of rural and agricultural development in the country.
"Today, the whole world including Georgia is facing economic challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemic. We are working hard to prevent a food crisis in the country. Our ministry, with support from partners and donors managed to reflect required changes in the ongoing programs. We will support Georgian farmers to implement the projects which will ensure uninterrupted agricultural activities and increased food production in the country," Tsilosani said.
This new program is part of the EU’s broader grant initiative supporting Georgian farmers with matching production grants, the total amount of which exceeds 19 million lari (about $5.91 million). The initiative is implemented under the European Neighborhood Program for Agricultural and Rural Development (ENPARD).
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