Production of perennial crops in Georgia has increased by 33% in recent years and amounted to 600,000 tons, Otar Shamugia, the Agriculture Minister of the country, has said.
Shamugia further noted in 2021 a new perennial garden had been planted on more than 3,600 hectares under the Government program Plant the Future, adding the resulting export products including walnuts and berries were in demand.
“One of the most in-demand state programs we are implementing is Plant the Future – a program that allows farmers to plant modern, intensive orchards and get high-quality abundant crop for both export and local markets,” Shamugia said.
During his address to MPs in the Minister’s Hour format, Shamugia also pointed out it would be possible to increase the self-sufficiency of wheat production in the country from 15% to 50% in a few years, saying the Government would present a program developed with the involvement of the scientists and focusing on a “significant increase” in grain production.
He also announced an assistance package to help farmers finance the costs of production under the preferential agro-credit state program.
Shamugia said the diversification of Georgia’s export market was one of the country’s main goals and noted in 2021 exports were made to 99 countries.
In other figures, the output of agriculture, forestry and fisheries amounted to 6 billion lari ($1.9 billion or EUR 1.8 billion), while the total output of agricultural products was 7.3 billion lari ($2.3 billion or EUR 2.2 billion) in 2021, he added.
The official also noted the area of irrigated agricultural land had increased from 45,000 to 160,000 hectares, while the area of drained land had increased from 14,000 to 43,000 hectares in Georgia, adding new pumping stations had been put into operation. (Agenda/Business World Magazine)