BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 30
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
The income from pine-cone exports has been growing for years in Georgia, said Karlo Amirgulashvili, Head of the Forest Protection and Biodiversity Department, Trend reports via Georgian media.
He said that according to the data for 10 months of 2020, 3,500 kg of cone seeds have already been collected, which is estimated at half a million lari.
“Seeds of pine-cones are exported from Racha region. More than 25,200 kilograms of seeds worth 1.40 million lari ($423,759) were exported in 2015. In 2019, 14,964 kilograms of seeds were exported, valued at more than 1.70 million lari ($514,564). According to the data of 10 months of 2020, I know that more than 3,500 kilograms have already been harvested, and the market value of seeds is estimated at more than half a million lari,” said Amirgulashvili.
Meanwhile, the representatives of companies collecting the Rachuli seeds, discussed the potential of Georgia's exports. It was noted that the country has not been able to use the existed potential for years and missed the change to increase the revenues from this particular exports.
It was also pointed out that there is a big risk that Europe will become the main supplier of Rachuli cone seeds, and Georgia will lose out.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356