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A new program will be launched to organize a refrigeration system to store berry crops.
According to the decision of the Government of Georgia, the "State Co-financing Program of Refrigerated Storage Facilities for Berry Crops of Agricultural Cooperatives" will be implemented.
As stated by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr Otar Shamugia, over the previous few years, more than 2,500 hectares of blueberry crop have been planted as part of the "Plant the Future" program. The expected yield in the coming years is between 20 and 25,000 tonnes. Moreover, Georgia exported 3,000 tonnes of blueberries (exceeding USD 18 million) during the first seven months of this year, 118% more than the figure for the same period last year.
" We will have an abundant blueberry yield after the fructification of the state-supported orchards. Which, of course, will become one of the primary sources of income in West Georgia. However, as long as berries are particularly perishable crops, it is critical to assist farmers in creating cold storage facilities where they can store the products and eventually sell them.
We believe this program will provide essential support for relatively small and medium-scale farmers," said the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr Otar Shamugia.
The Rural Development Agency will implement the state program. Cold storage refrigerators with a capacity to store at least 30 tonnes of products will be funded. The co-financing per potential beneficiary was set at 70% of the cold storage refrigerator's cost but no more than GEL 250,000.
To participate in the program, the agricultural cooperative and at least five shareholding agencies must have a blueberry, blackberry, or raspberry orchard planted on at least 10 hectares in one municipality within the scope of projects/programs.