Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia met with the farmers producing grain crops. The participants discussed challenges faced by the sector, while addressing the needs to ensure the growth of crop production. 

‘’ The state policy has been focused on the promotion of local production and substitution of imports over the years, which resulted in the significant increase in the production and sale of Georgian products both in the local market, as well as export to other countries.
The difficult situation in the region over the past month has made it even clearer, how important is to increase the consumption of essential commodities, particularly, wheat self-sufficiency, in the shortest possible time and to ensure food security.
Our goal is to identify the short-term and long-term steps we need to take to achieve our goals. In the first stage, we will reveal critical needs and provide a support to achieve the best results in the shortest possible time. The Ministry will actively work on developing concrete proposals which will be acceptable and effective, " Mr. Otar Shamugia said.

According to the Minister, Georgia has the resources to increase wheat self-sufficiency to 50%. Accordingly, the state is ready to develop stimulating projects and take measures that will help to increase wheat production and productivity.

The farmers, who produce grain crops, briefed the Minister in detail on the current situation in the country, regarding wheat production and the basic needs that are necessary to increase production.

The importance of ensuring supply of highly productive seed material in an organized manner was emphasized among a range of issues, including, accessibility to financial resources and relevant equipment for working capital, issues of land privatization and lease, introduction of new sowing technologies, improvement of agricultural insurance and access to irrigation water and arrangement of windbreaks. 

 It was decided, that the relevant Agencies of the Ministry will develop specific proposals and support mechanisms, which will be discussed at the next working meeting with the farmers producing grain crops.

The meeting by the First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Mr. George Khanishvili and the Heads of the relevant services within the system of the Ministry.