News
After the Government session, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili made a comment
The Minister set focus on the issues concerning reorganization of the Ministry and changes made in the agricultural development projects.
“ It is well known, that after the reorganization of the Ministry, the Agricultural Cooperative Development Agency joined the Project Management Agency which ultimately resulted in the creation of the Rural and Agricultural Development Agency.
We had very important cooperative development projects, which included optimal use of pasture and development of livestock breeding in Georgia’s highlands. This project including some modifications has been approved by Georgian Government today. Moreover, a number of changes were made to the project aiming to promote milk consolidation centers for cooperatives. Due to the above mentioned changes, the Rural and Agricultural Development Agency will support dairy production agricultural co-operatives. The dairy processing companies will be developed and co-financed under the project. It is important to note, that limit of the co-financing amount will be GEL 150,000 for enterprises.
As for the livestock development project in the mountainous regions of Georgia, we have state co-financing, where up to GEL 60,000 are allocated per beneficiary.
The procedures are simplified, accordingly. all applicants and agricultural cooperatives can apply to the Rural Development Agency to get engaged in the projects.
We hope that, the number of beneficiaries of state co-financing projects will be increased by
simplifying the procedures.
The agency reorganization process has come to an end. New agency will gradually get European accreditation, which is crucial to obtain funds from Targeted Funds on the basis of the improved integration process with the EU.
Moreover, the network of information-consulting services was transferred to the agency from the central office of the Ministry. I believe, that consolidated structure will be even more focused on the farmers needs and rural development and will use more flexible mechanisms to successfully implement the policy of the Ministry ” Levan Davitashvili said.