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Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, David Songulashvili, held a meeting with apple-producing farmers and exporters.
During the meeting, the Minister presented an initiative to establish a sectoral council within the Ministry, noting that the council will be tasked with identifying key challenges and needs within the sector, disseminating innovations, and ensuring the availability of appropriate support mechanisms.
The Minister explained that council meetings will take place monthly under the supervision of the Deputy Minister, with the Minister chairing sessions quarterly.
Mr. Songulashvili emphasized that the development of the apple sector is of strategic importance, as apples represent both a key product for the domestic market and a commodity with growing export potential.
“Regular meetings with farmers are essential to accurately identify existing challenges across all areas of the sector. Moreover, these meetings will enable us to take preventive measures and ensure an effective and responsive approach to sectoral challenges, ” the Minister stated.
According to the Minister, the council framework will significantly enhance the incorporation of farmers’ interests into decision-making and facilitate the design and implementation of well-targeted, effective initiatives across a broad range of agricultural sectors.
Notably, apple production in Georgia has demonstrated a steady upward trend in recent years and remains one of the key segments of the agricultural sector. Production is primarily based in the Shida Kartli region, which remains the leading area, while Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Kakheti regions also represent a substantial share of total output. Ultimately, the regional diversification indicates that apple production is gradually expanding and becoming less dependent on a single geographic area.
Apples are a significant export product in Georgia. In 2025, export volumes reached approximately 20.6 thousand tonnes, with an average export price of about USD 0.68 per kilogram. Consequently, the total export value amounted to approximately USD 14 million. The main export markets include Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Kazakhstan.
The Deputies of the Minister, Mr. Lasha Dolidze and Mr. Lasha Avaliani, along with the Heads of relevant Agencies and other representatives of the Ministry, attended the meeting.