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New hazelnut processing and drying enterprise opens in Chokhatauri municipality
A new hazelnut processing and drying plant was opened in Chokhatauri municipality through state support.
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia along with Mr. Giorgi Urushadze, State Representative of Guria region paid a visit to the new hazelnut processing enterprise "Megagro in the village of Chokhatauri".
"Hazelnuts are important agricultural products for us. The market is fully diversified and the products are almost entirely exported to the European Union. Last year, approximately USD 114 million worth of Georgian hazelnuts were exported, which is several times higher than in the previous year, and we must maintain this trend ", Mr. Otar Shamugia said.
According to the Minister, the fight against the Asian stink bug is a big challenge for the hazelnut growing industry.
"Over the years, the state has been taking measures together with the farmers to combat the invasive pest; We have achieved concrete results, which are reflected in the increase of crop yield. We will get a more abundant harvest this year than we had in 2018-2019, although, challenges still remain with regard to the quality of the crop.
We still have a lot to do to improve the quality of hazelnuts as much as possible and make the product competitive on the world market. We will actively continue to work with the farmers to improve the quality and steadily increase farmers' income. This is our goal," said Mr. Shamugia.
"Megagro" is a hazelnut processing enterprise equipped with modern standards, where 300-500 tonnes of hazelnuts can be processed annually. 20 people are employed in the enterprise. The company is a beneficiary of the project ''Co-financing of Agro Processing and Storage Enterprises''.
The company received GEL 300,000 within the framework of the “Pilot Regions Integrated Development Program”. Totally, Gel 680,440 was invested in the enterprise, out of which GEL 250,000 is a grant.
Moreover, the company introduced the international food safety standard ISO 22000 with the help of the "Technical Assistance Program’’, where co-financing from the state amounted to GEL 30,000. The company plans to sell its products on both local and international markets.
The Mayor of Chokhatauri Mr. Davit Sharashidze and Chairperson of a Municipal Council, Mr. Irakli Kuchava accompanied the Minister at the new hazelnut processing enterprise in Chokhatauri Municipality.
It should be mentioned, that with the support of the state, 196 enterprises have been co-financed within the framework of the project ''Co-financing of Agro Processing and Storage Enterprises'' throughout Georgia, where state grants amounted to 95,823,868 GEL. 13 enterprises are co-financed in the Guria region, the state grant amounts to GEL 5,791,509.
226 preferential agro-credits amounting to GEL 40,088,824 were issued across the country, including 11 preferential loans of GEL 3,546,597 in the Guria region for the development of the hazelnut sector.