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

"Actually, we have daily communication with the importers and conduct monitoring of the whole process;  Thereupon, I can tell that, currently, we have no delays in the supply of food products in the country. If necessary, we are ready to help businesses to have access to alternative markets as well.
However, the current situation has shown us, that more needs to be done to increase the self-sufficiency of primary consumption products; Therefore, we are actively working to develop necessary measures to promote and ensure the growth of the grain production, moreover, through the engagement of the representatives of the sector and science, we will present a program in the nearest future, which will help to stimulate significant growth in grain production in the country.
"We think, it will be possible to increase the wheat self-sufficiency from 15 % to 50%  in the country, in a few years, we will make our best endeavors to accomplish it "
According to the Minister, currently, promoting local production is of the utmost importance.
"Within the framework of the preferential agro-credit project, we will finance the working capital loan for farmers with an interest rate.
 However, we understand, that loans are not always available to smallholder farmers and they need the support, particularly, in the face of rising prices for fuel, fertilizers, and pesticides. We are actively working on the respective issues and, we will present the assistance package in the nearest future, which will help farmers in financing the costs for growing/producing the products, "- said Mr. Otar Shamugia.
The Minister underlined the importance of positive dynamics, which resulted from the policy pursued by the Government in the fields of agriculture, production, and exports.
" The positive growth trend in the exports of agri-food products was maintained in 2021 over the past few years and the export amounted to USD 1,142,000,000, which is an unprecedented rate in the history of independent Georgia.
This is more than USD 200 million (up 21%) compared to the previous year. The growing trend in the export of agri-food products is maintained in 2022, according to the data of the first quarter, we have a 5% growth. The negative foreign trade balance of agri-food products has decreased by 72% in the last 10 years. During the same period, we have about an 80% increase in agri-food exports to the EU ( USD 180 million in 2021).

The diversification of export markets is one of our main objectives for us. The number of countries, where agricultural products produced in Georgia are exported is annually increasing. In 2021, Georgian products were exported to 99 countries around the world.

According to the data for 2021, the output of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries amounted to GEL 6.0 billion, and the total output of processed agricultural products – GEL 7.3 billion, "- said Mr. Otar Shamugia.