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

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Otar Shamugia inspected the cold storage warehouse and a blueberry orchard planted through state support.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, together with Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti State Representative, Mr.  Giorgi Guguchia, got acquainted with the blueberry harvesting process in the garden of local farmers, Davit and Dilar Todua, in the village of Narazen, Zugdidi Municipality. 

"Blueberry picking is currently underway in Samegrelo region. A few years ago, we launched a program to promote the planting of blueberry orchards. Gardens have already been planted on more than 2,500 hectares, which means that in the following years, we will harvest 20-25 thousand tonnes, with the potential to export fruit worth tens of millions of dollars and have an additional income in the west Georgia region. Within the state program, we assist farmers throughout the whole production chain, from planting gardens to establishing cold storage facilities and processing plants," said Mr. Otar Shamugia.  

Mr. Giorgi Guguchia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti State Representative, emphasized the state support programs, noting that every newly planted garden, cold storage warehouse, or processing plant creates new jobs and increases the residents' income.

Dilar Todua was one of the first farmers to benefit from the Rural Development Agency programs. With the state's financial support, he planted a blueberry garden in 2017, 2018, and 2021 and set up a cold storage warehouse. The farmer mentioned that he plans to grow and further expand his gardens.

Davit and Dilar Todua received co-financing of GEL 238,000 under the "Plant the Future" initiative; the amount of preferential agro-credit issued for planting gardens and setting up a cold storage warehouse exceeds GEL 1 million. 

Preferential agro-credit issued for blueberry planting in Georgia exceeds GEL 127.9 million, with the Rural Development Agency subsidizing loan interest of GEL 16.6 million. More than GEL 69 million has been provided for blueberry growing in the Samegrelo region, with the co-financing of the Rural Development Agency exceeding GEL 9.8 million.

The cultivation of blueberries on an area of more than 2,500 hectares has been financed in the framework of the "Plant the Future" program, with more than GEL 41 million, including the planting of blueberries on 1,500 hectares in the Samegrelo region, with the co-financing of more than GEL 27 million.