Georgia: Wheat self-sufficiency increased by 60%, says Otar Shamugia

Tbilisi: Georgian Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Otar Shamugia met with representatives of the Grain Producers Association to discuss issues of remaining local wheat supplies and housing for this year’s new crop. According to him, under the support of the state, the yield in the wheat self-sufficiency sector has increased by 60% for 2 years.

Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia noted that the positive dynamics of grain production growth will be maintained in the future, as a result of a consistent policy made by the Agriculture Ministry.

It is noteworthy that more than 4 thousand grain-producing farmers benefit from a lucrative agrocred, where the interest of the loan given to finance the current expenses is co-financing by the Rural Development Agency. State programs provide funding for sustainable infrastructure; as well as agriculture, including harvesting machinery.

“The state has always supported the farmers and is still actively working to ensure that the harvesting and realization of the new crops can be done smoothly by the farmers. Regarding market wheat price,wheat price was high in the local market a few months back;however harvesters expected price hike which failed to realize production.

As of today, the price of wheat has been significantly reduced due to the fact that the yields in large global manufacturing countries have been unprecedented plentiful. “We expect a new crop in the near future and it’s vital that farmers are able to properly house crops and reap adequate revenues,” said Otar Shamugia.

In the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, meetings are intensively held with representatives of Grain Producers, Wheat and Flour Association, Bread Manufacturers Association and Mill Combines, to reach an agreement according to which the price of bread will be maintained and at the same time farmers will be able to settle their crops uninterruptedly.

After the issues are finally settled with all parties involved appropriate decision will be made in the near future.