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

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Otar Shamugia: " In recent years, farmers have purchased over 6,000 units of agricultural equipment valued at more than GEL 235 million with state co-financing".

The candidate for the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, presented the outcomes of state agricultural programs and the future vision at the joint session of the Agrarian Issues, Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Sectoral Economy and Economic Policy, Regional Policy and Self-Government and Finance-Budget Committees.

"In 2023, specifically for cooperatives, we launched the state program for co-financing of agricultural machinery" with a ''fairly high'' 50% grant funding from the state. The private sector continues to show a significant demand for agricultural mechanization. In recent years, farmers have purchased over 6,000 units of agricultural machinery valued at more than GEL 235 million, with state co-financing. This year, GEL 20 million has been allocated for financing the program", said Mr. Otar Shamugia.

While focusing on the field-related planned measures, the candidate for the Minister noted that the state program aimed at developing the cattle breeding sector will be implemented in 2024. The private sector will be able to acquire high-yielding cattle breeds and modernize agricultural farms while receiving unprecedented long-term benefits for seven years. The program involves the meat and dairy industries, which will help increase the country's meat and milk production output. Grant assistance is also available for small farms.



" Aquaculture has great development potential. Last year, eight locations were designated for setting up marine aquaculture farms, creating opportunities to attract large investments to produce tens of thousands of tonnes of fish and seafood products, gradually tapping into the export potential of hundreds of millions of dollars. We are actively working on the licensing conditions to attract large investments in this direction this year, which will help develop existing small farms," said Mr. Otar Shamugia.