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Minister introduced farmers with the projects implemented in Shida Kartli Region
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili met with the farmers in Gori. The Minister provided farmers with the information about ongoing projects, future plans and policy implemented by the Ministry. The meeting was held in question-answer mode. The farmers expressed interest in the arrangement of agricultural infrastructure and melioration system in the country. The Minister drew his attention to the projects implemented in the region and noted, that since 2012, 54 projects of rehabilitation of irrigation systems have been completed in Shida Kartli region. Overall, more than 36 million have been spent in the irrigation projects. As a result, water is provided to 11 547 ha of land.
A number of projects have been implemented in terms of promoting agricultural cooperatives. Namely, under the frame of the small equipments program in Shida Kartli region, 47 agricultural cooperatives were provided with 10 hand operated seed sowing machines and 65 agricultural complex at 24% of its value. 6 cooperatives were provided with 454 bee hives at 30% co-financing rate within the state program of supporting beekeepers agricultural cooperatives. It is important to build a dairy processing cooperative enterprise that will be implemented within the state program.
Levan Davitashvili stated, that with the state support, farmers and entrepreneurs have an access to a preferential financial resource. Within the framework of the "preferential agro-credit" project, 1 billion 240 million gel and more than 32,600 loans amounting to 247 million dollars were issued, as a result of which, 180 new enterprises were built and 880 old plants were re-equipped. The main areas include cattle-breeding, plant growing, fruit-farming fields.
More than 5,600 ha of perennial fruit garden is cultivated, within the frame of the program "Plant the Future”. The amount of co-financing from state exceeded 29 million lari. The project enabled farmers to restore their old gardens. In addition, farmers can benefit from the "Agro-Production Program", which is implemented with the support of the project AMMAR (Agriculture Modernization, Market Access and Resilience).
The program is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Global Environment Fund (GEF). State co-financing provided by the program amounts 40% of the total value of the submitted project, while the beneficiary participation equals to 60%.
It is important to note, that the agro insurance project is an efficient instrument to prevent damage to natural disasters. The state supports farmers in this direction to maximize the risks associated with the activities of the agricultural sector.
This year participation of the state in the agri-insurance project to buy insurance policy at all agricultural crops amounts 70%, while 50% is for vine.
According to the September 2018 data, 12,170 policies have been issued throughout Georgia under the frame of the Agro Insurance Project; The project involves 7,460 beneficiaries; The sum of the subsidy of the insurance premium amounted to 4,395,237 GEL. 11,432 hectares of agricultural land is insured and the harvest value amounts to 84,929,988 GEL.
Young entrepreneurs support program "Young Entrepreneurs" is also implemented for young people granted with the Citizenship of Georgia who want to carry out business activities in Georgia.
The meeting was held at the Gori State University Hall and was attended by the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Giorgi Khanishvili and Krtli Regional Governor, Giorgi Khojevanishvili.