A new blueberry storage and processing enterprise, with a total investment of GEL 2.3 million ($798,361 or EUR 787,383), has been launched in the western Georgian town of Khobi with the support of the Rural Development Agency.
The agency announced on July 12 the facility had the capacity to store and process 600 tons of blueberries seasonally through a GEL 500,000 ($173,556 or EUR 171,170) grant from the body and a GEL 1.4-million ($485,959 or EUR 479,276) preferential agro-credit.
Over 25 locals are involved in the production of blueberries designated for both export and local markets.
Giorgi Khanishvili, the Deputy Agriculture Minister, inspected the enterprise and said the Government programmes covered “all components” of the production value chain, including the introduction of international standards “so that local farmers can produce competitively”.
Blueberries have been planted on an area of 1,300 ha in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region through the Plant The Future programme, the agency said, adding state co-financing of the latter totaled more than GEL 23.9 million ($8.2 million or EUR 8.1 million).
The agency has co-financed 21 processing and storage enterprises in the region, with state co-financing amounting to more than GEL 10.5 million ($3.6 million or EUR 3.5 million). (Agenda/Business World Magazine)
