News
Setting up a coordination task-force to boost sale of apples
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr Levan Davitashvili has opened a coordination task-force to promote sale of non-standard apples in Gori.
"Coordination task-force will work in Gori to facilitate the smooth processing of industrial apples. The apple harvest is three times higher compared to last year. Nevertheless, crop accommodation-processing requires capacity building and state support, including subsidies. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, prices are falling globally. In order to take into account, the interests of our farmers and value their income, we decided to encourage the private sector to process the maximum number of apples. A new component has been added to the Agro-credit program, allowing companies to access cheap cash resources and purchase more apples at an increased price.
I think the state is creating all preconditions this year to house an apple crop without any drawbacks” – Minister Davitashvili stated.
The projected crop of apple exceeds 120 thousand tonnes this year, which is much higher than last year.
Within the framework of state programs, areas of modern standard perennial gardens are increasing every year. The estimates of planted crops are also growing.
It should be noted that the projected yield of newly planted orchards under the program "Plant the Future" is more than 10,000 tonnes this year, and more than 20,000 tonnes are predicted in 2021.
The state supports the renovation and cultivation of European standard perennial gardens through various targeted programs, but the number of non-standard crops is still large.
Companies wishing to participate in the "2020 Apple Crop Sales Promotion Program" are required to register electronically at the coordination task-force.
Under the state program, the Rural Development Agency will issue a subsidy of 0.10 GEL for 1 kg of non-standard apples. In case of purchase of non-standard apples, the state subsidy will be given to the fruit processing companies, which will purchase 1 kg of non-standard apples until December 1, 2020, from individuals employed in the fruit-growing sector for not less than 0.22 GEL.
Within the framework of the "Preferential Agro Credit" project, capital loans to non-standard apple purchasing enterprises are issued for the purpose of purchasing and producing non-standard apples. Under the subcomponent, loans can be obtained solely by those companies that are registered in the coordination headquarter set up for the smooth implementation and promotion to sale apple crop in 2020.
Acting state representative in Shida Kartli region Mr Simon Guledani and the representatives of fruit processing production attended the opening ceremony of the headquarter.