Tbilisi: Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Otar Shamugia, together with Giorgi Guguchia of Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti State Trustee and Executive Director of the Nut Producers Association Giorgi Todua, in the village Kakhati of Zugdidi Municipality, Met Fruit met with farmers and introduced a new state program to support nut production.
“We think the new program will be an important support for farmers to do proper maintenance work in spring and get better crops.” Nuts are one of the most important exported agro-products of our country. Last year, about 115 million dollars of nuts were exported. The nuts sector employs 10,000 people, 10,000 families earn income from nut production.
This year, due to various factors, we have had fewer yields and deteriorated quality, which has resulted in our farmers earning less. Therefore, we have seen the need to get involved and support our farmers to significantly improve the yields next year, quality, which is directly proportional to our farmers’ more revenue and, what Of course, ultimately, with strengthening our country’s economy,” Otar Shamugia said.
The state program for nut production support provides financial assistance as a subsidy to individuals who own 0.2 ha to 3 ha nut gardens. The amount of subsidy is determined by 500 GEL. You will recalculate every 1 ha. Assistance will be provided by depositing relevant points on agro-cards, which will be used by farmers to purchase nut production at specialized stores.
Farmers must register their nut gardens in the nut cadastre to receive financial aid by January 31, 2023. The program is carried out in all municipalities of Georgia, except for self-governing cities.
Around 100,000 farmers will participate in the program. As a result of implementation of the program, the care and supply facilities will be funded for the production of quality nuts on 40,000 ha. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the local government.
