BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 7
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
The Government of Georgia presented a strategy for the development of the agricultural sector for the period up to 2030, Trend reports via Georgian media.
According to Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, this plan should serve to increase local production, develop regions, strengthen rural areas and overcome poverty.
According to the strategy, by 2030, joint investments of the government and the private sector in agriculture will reach 7 billion lari.
Agricultural machinery will become more affordable for farmers. A program designed to resolve this issue will start this year. Its budget will be 50 million lari ($15.8 million).
The export of agricultural products, according to the calculations of the authorities, should increase to $3 billion a year, and revenues from the export of wine - up to $1 billion.
The area of land occupied by annual and perennial crops will increase to 500,000 hectares. Production of up to 3.7 million tons of products per year will be ensured, including 600,000 tons of grapes.
New greenhouses will be created on 500 hectares. There are plans to spend more than 124 million lari ($39.3 million) on co-financing of relevant farm projects.
On territories of more than 50,000 hectares, orchards will have to be planted, and vineyards on an area of more than 15,000 hectares. To achieve these goals, the state is ready to spend more than 340 million lari ($107.9 million) in the form of co-financing.
It is planned to spend 560 million lari ($177.8 million) on the construction of up to 400 livestock and poultry farms.
By 2030, the authorities promise to provide water to 227,000 hectares of agricultural land. It is planned to spend 1 billion lari ($317.5 million) on the land reclamation system. The government also promises to introduce the best European technologies to reduce air, water and soil pollution.
The area of protected areas in the next ten years should increase to 1 million hectares and reach 17 percent of the entire territory of the country.
At the initiative of the prime minister of Georgia, absolutely all ministries will have to present their visions for the development of their specialized spheres.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila6197935