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Khatia Tsilosani: “Amid Covid-19 turmoil 2020 wine vintage to be among the best, despite of irresponsible critisicm from politicians”
“The global pandemic has appeared disruptive and unwelcome for vintage, it is unfortunate to observe how politicians speculate through irresponsible and unrealistic criticism. Amid Covid-19 pandemic turmoil – 2020 vintage to be among the best with projections of 180, 000 tonnes of grapes. Politicians speculate about the possibilities of an additional 80 Tetri per each State-subsidirzed kg of grapes purchaced, which is an irresponsible statement at a core.
As an informed and wise citizens, Georgian farmers have a clear understanding on an efforts undertaken by the State for gradually and sustainably fostering viticulture in Georgia. Our farmers are aware about the process of supplying more than 40 countries with the Georgian wine, as well as successful State policies that, amidst the pandemic, ensure positive export trends at the American, Polish and Latvian markets.
Frankly speaking, the public has a clear recollection on how tremendeously the viticulture sector has boosted up since 2013, from an angle of farmers’ profit and cultivating a better and more organized possibilities for realizing their production without further ado. Moreover, farmers have opted to insurance mechanism knowing that devastation caused by natural disasters and hail will be mitigated at its greater extent by the State and insurance program.
In recent years, rendering effective cooperation between the Government of Georgia (GoG) and private sector, as well as enacting State policies – subsidizing process has been gradually detached. Nevertheless, the year of 2020 has posed tremendous obstacles to Georgia and an entire whole world, thus setting the needs for subsidizing.
The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown curveballs at many countries that generate majority of their economies from wine-making, hence subtly shifting them toward tough decisions. The Government of Georgia responded to potential consequent hardships though providing economic stimulus to safeguard farmers, within viticulture and beyond, from contending with a fiery future.
With the 2020 grape harvest already in full swing and without an impediment – a daily increase of grapes processed supplies wine-producing companies with a high-quality production and farmers with more income. We can firmly announce that the vintage of 2020 is a success” – Ms Khatia Tsilosani, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia stated.