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

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The coordination headquarter was opened for selling non-standard apples in the city of Gori

During the working meeting at the coordination center (headquarter), the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia underlined the importance of the program ‘’ Promoting the Sale of Non-standard Apples".

Mr. Mikheil Shakulashvili, State Trustee of Shida Kartli, Mr. Giorgi Khanishvili, the First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mayor of Gori, Mr. Vladimir Khinchegashvili, Gori Municipality Council Chairman Mr. Davit Razmadze, Director of the Rural Development Agency Mr. Ilia Tamarashvili as well as representatives of apple processing enterprises attended the meeting. More than 50 local young people were employed in the respective coordination center.

"This year, we are expecting an abundant apple harvest, around 120,000 tonnes, out of which, 40-50 thousand tonnes might be non-standard, which will be further processed.

The government decided to launch a new state program to support the sector. Each enterprise that receives non-standard apples from a farmer and pays him at least 24 tetri per kilogram will receive 10 tetri as a subsidy from the state. 

 This program is crucial, as it enables farmers to fully accommodate their harvest; At the same time, non-standard apples are the raw material for the processing sector, which produces products - juices, fruit purees etc.; A large part of these products is exported, including to the EU market," said Mr. Otar Shamugia.

 According to the program ‘’ Promoting the Sale of Non-standard Apples", the fruit processing companies will receive a state subsidy, if they purchase non-standard apples from persons employed in the horticulture field ( they will pay at least 24 tetri per kilogram of apple) until December 15, 2022, thereupon, the Rural Development Agency will give a subsidy of 10 tetri per  kg of non-standard apples 

Moreover, the sub-component of the preferential agri-credit project for enterprises purchasing non-standard apples was launched to facilitate the smooth accommodation of non-standard apples.