Adjara Agricultural Ministry presents activity report 2023

Georgia: The Ministry of Agriculture of Adjara Autonomous Republic presented its activity report for 2023 on December 20, 2023. The Presentation was attended by the Chairman of the Adjara Government, Tornike Rizhvadze, and the Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia, Otar Shamugia.

Zaza Shavadze, the Minister of Agriculture of Adjara, summarized the main achievements of the ministry in 2023 and outlined the priorities and plans for the following year. 

He said that the ministry had implemented various programs to support the development of agriculture and rural entrepreneurship in the region, such as:

• Processing 2200 hectares of land free of charge in all municipalities of Adjara, benefiting more than 3000 farmers;

• Financing more than 1500 projects presented by agricultural unions and small household farms, with a total budget of 15 million GEL;

• Financing six successful projects in the direction of primary production and recycling-preservation-realization, with a total budget of 1.5 million GEL;

• Implementing artificial feeding of the Black Sea coastline within the coastal protection and nutrition measures framework, with a total budget of 1.2 million GEL.

Shavadze also reported on the progress of the citrus season, which is going smoothly despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He said that today, up to 27 thousand tons of citrus had been exported, mainly to Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. 

He added that the ministry had received and processed 4,533 tons of non-standard mandarins for industrial purposes such as juice and jam production. He noted that the subsidy of non-standard mandarin had doubled this year, from 15 to 30 tetri per kilogram, as a decision of the Adjara government.

Shavadze expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of the Adjara Government and the Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia for their support and cooperation. 

He also thanked the farmers, the agricultural unions, and the private sector for their contribution to developing the farm industry in Adjara. 

He said that the ministry would continue to improve the quality and competitiveness of agricultural products, enhance access to markets and finance, and promote the innovation and sustainability of farming practices in the region.