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‘’Minister’s Hour’’ -Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Levan Davitashvili presents a report at the hearing session, Parliament of Georgia
Levan Davitashvili: "Farmers and entrepreneurs have an access to the best possible financial resources. The creation of new enterprises has contributed to the development of the agricultural sector and agricultural infrastructure, increased production of high quality products -with high export potential.
"Financial support from state has given entrepreneurs an additional push for the development and expansion of their production." stated the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili, in his speech during the "Minister's Hours" today.
According to the Minister, more than 900 old and 188 new enterprises have been funded by the state, more than 6,347 hectares of perennial gardens have been planted, where state financing reached to 34 million gel. up to 960 hectares of tea plantations have been restored; The majority of beneficiaries involved in the project are cooperatives.
"Since 2013, more than 34 000 loans have been issued, thereby, the portfolio exceeds 1 billion 800 million Gel. All of the above mentioned has led to the fact, that beneficiaries of the project are registered as taxpayers (their number has reached to 13,000,) who paid more than 620 million GEL in the state budget in 2013-2017 "said Levan Davitashvili.
• According to the preliminary data, the value added in the agricultural sector in the three quarters of 2018 amounts to 3.6 billion gel, which is 215 million gel (6.3%) higher than the same figure in the previous year.
"Agriculture is one of the most important sector in our country's economy, which employes approximately 42% of the country's population.
Agricultural field has inherited problems and faces great challenges as well. However, in recent years we have improved macroeconomic indicators in different directions. Since 2012 the growth of agro-food products has increased by 41% "said Levan Davitashvili.
According to the Minister, additional value in the agriculture sector increased by 4% in the mentioned period, which is especially important after the reduction detected in 2017. added value is increased in the fields of plant protection and animal husbandry.
As for the added value created in the agricultural products processing sector, according to the data given in the three quarters of 2018, the increase was 10% compared to the same period of the previous year. The increase was largely caused by alcoholic beverages and mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages production, which is higher than 33.1 (13.0%) and 69.0 (29.1%) mln gel than it was in the previous year.
• In 2018, Georgia exported 959.2 million US dollars worth of agro products, which is 23.2% more than the same figure in 2017 (in 2017, 778.3 million US dollars worth of agricultural products were exported)
• According to the preliminary data statistics in 2018, total agro business output increased by 337.2 million gel (5.2%) and reached 6.8 billion gel compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
• According to the preliminary data, the output of rural, forestry and fishery products in the business sector was increased by 10.8% (31 million GEL) in the three quarters of 2018 compared with the same period of last year.
In 2017, the total share of business sector amounted to 11 percent in rural, forestry and fish farming, which is 1.2 percentage points higher than it was in 2016 and 3.5 percentage more than in 2012, indicating the growing interest in agriculture business.
• Wine
In 2019 grape harvest, in viticulture two zones in ‘’Kindzmarauli’’ and ‘’Mukuzani’’, the farmers will be able to sell grape on the basis of the vineyard cadastre program. The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili, said in his speech during the "Minister's Hours" today.
"In 2019, delivering, processing or registering of grape in the appellation of origin " Kindzmarauli "and "Mukuzani’’ will be allowed after the registration in the farming cadastre electronic system therefore, the existing old tradition -issuance of certificates by the village governors will no longer be required in these zones. The similar system works in European countries and this will further increase the reliability and reputation of Georgian wine "- noted Levan Davitashvili.
According to the Minister, the successful introduction of a wine control system is being implemented in the wine sector as well as implementation of the strategy to increase an access to the new export markets, which is well reflected in the export indicators referring a trend of growth in exports.
• In 2018, Georgia exported about 86,2 million bottles (0,75 l) in 53 countries, which is the record number in the last 30 years. Increase in growth, compared to 2017, reached 13%. Exported wine worth 203 million US dollars, which is 20% higher than the same figure in 2017. Exports have been increased in Georgian wine strategic and traditional markets, in Europe and Asia;