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Minister David Songulashvili meets with the Georgian Tea Producers Association.
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. David Songulashvili, and Members of the Georgian Tea Producers Association discussed strategies for promoting Georgian tea production and expanding export markets.
The parties focused on current state initiatives, including tea plantation rehabilitation, support for small entrepreneurs, and future development projects.
“To boost Georgian tea production, the Ministry has implemented a tea plantation rehabilitation program for several years, providing significant assistance to farmers. Additionally, we are implementing various support programs, such as co-financing for agricultural machinery, and the Ministry is ready to provide additional support if further assistance is needed,” stated Minister Songulashvili.
According to the President of the Georgian Tea Producers Association, Mr Tengiz Svanidze, at this stage, 2,050 hectares of tea plantations have been rehabilitated through state support, which is a significant step forward for the sector.
“Considerable progress has been made through the rehabilitation program; however, challenges remain. While Georgian tea is gaining popularity in the domestic market, accounting for 25% of total sales, export-related difficulties persist. We require additional state support to strengthen our position in international markets,” said Svanidze.
The Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Lasha Dolidze, and Advisor to the Minister, Mr. Omar Kacharava, attended the meeting.