BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22
Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 the development of the agricultural sector in Georgia has not stopped, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia told Trend.
The current projects have not been suspended either.
"Financial investments in the agricultural sector from the state and the private sector will amount to 7 billion lari ($2.2 billion). An estimated 2.5 billion lari ($804.8 million) worth of investments will be made into the local production. As an effort to complement an intensified development of the rural production sector – we have simplified access to preferential financial resources," said the ministry.
According to the source, an interest rate of 50,756 loans issued to farmers and entrepreneurs is paid by the state.
"Nowadays, around 14,400 hectares of various gardens have been cultivated nationwide; moreover, thousands of beneficiaries in cattle-farming, freezer, storage, processing enterprises have been co-financed. 1,700 hectares have been rehabilitated within the “Georgian Tea” program," the ministry added.
According to the ministry, the State program of “Agro-insurance” has enabled around 62,000 beneficiaries to be eligible for funding and have access to rural-agricultural equipment. Ameliorated space in Georgia spans across 200,000 hectares. Some 6,400 hectares of vineyards have been cultivated within the last 8 years.
"The state supports up to 25,000 vine farmers to fully accommodate their harvest, Around 500 small and medium wine cellars have been established. Throughout the recent years, an annual export accrued by the Georgian wine export amounts to $220 million," said the source.
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