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Lasha Dolidze: “The Increase or Decrease of Individual Indicators Does Not Provide a Complete Picture of Agricultural Sector Dynamics”
The agricultural sector in Georgia has demonstrated positive dynamics in recent years. Assessing the sector’s overall performance requires looking beyond changes in the production volumes of individual agricultural products. It is equally important to consider trends in productivity, the value of agricultural output, farm commercialization, and export potential. At the same time, when comparing agricultural statistics, the sampling frame for the Agricultural Holdings Survey was updated in 2016 and based on the 2014 Agricultural Census. Consequently, direct comparisons between data collected from 2014 onward and data from 2006–2013 are not methodologically appropriate.
“Assessing the dynamics of the agricultural sector based on the increase or decrease of a single indicator does not provide a complete picture. Ongoing sectoral changes encompass several dimensions at once, including increased productivity, the commercialization of farms, shifts in the structure of production, improved economic performance, and the expansion of Georgian agricultural products in international markets,” said Mr Lasha Dolidze, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
In recent years, yields have increased for certain crops despite a decline in the area under cultivation. For example, average maize yields increased from 2.4 tonnes to 3 tonnes per hectare between 2012 and 2015, while wheat yields increased from 1.7 tonnes to 2.9 tonnes per hectare over the same period. Potato yields reached approximately 14–15 tonnes per hectare in 2025. This indicates that higher volumes of agricultural output can now be obtained from comparatively smaller cultivated areas.
The changes are particularly evident in the livestock sector. While the number of cattle has declined, annual milk yields per cow and buffalo increased from 1,256 litres in 2012 to 1,716 litres in 2025. During the same period, beef production increased from 16,000 tonnes to more than 24,000 tonnes. These trends point to higher productivity and a gradual transition toward more commercially oriented production.
Agriculture is also gradually moving away from predominantly subsistence-oriented small-scale farming, while the importance of commercial and industrial production continues to grow. This shift is particularly significant in the livestock and dairy sectors, where modern production systems require substantial capital investment and specialized knowledge.
Economic performance is another important indicator of sectoral development. Between 2012 and 2025, the value of primary agricultural output increased nearly threefold, while farm profitability indicators also improved. Between 2015 and 2025, exports of agri-food products increased fourfold, exceeding USD 1.8 billion.
At the same time, new products—including blueberries have been added to Georgia’s agri-food export portfolio, while Georgian agricultural products continue to establish themselves in new international markets.