Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture Otar Shamugia, First Deputy Chairman of the Agrarian Affairs Committee Gela Samkharauli, Kakheti representative Irakli Shioshvili and Dedoplistskaro Mayor Nikoloz Janiashvili got instructed on the wheat and barley harvesting process in Dedoplistskaro.
“The process of wheat and barley harvesting and settlement is actively underway in the Kakheti region and will soon be completed, after which the harvesters will move to Shida Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions. About 80 combines in the state company are involved in the harvesting process; Also, private sector equipment. I would like to note that with our support, through the state co-financing program, more than 30 new combines were purchased by the private sector, which is also involved in the harvesting process, although this number is not enough. We will continue co-financing in the coming years and will increase the number of agricultural machinery throughout the country, which will give farmers the opportunity to harvest crops during the harvest period without interruption”, said the Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture.
Otar Shamugia also spoke about the trends of yield growth and noted that in 2021, compared to 2020, wheat production increased by approximately 33% and that the harvest is plentiful this year as well.
“In order to help the crop to stay in the country and supply the local market, we made a decision and limited the export of wheat and barley. I would also like to point out that in order to increase the yield of wheat in the country, complex measures are to be implemented, which we are actively working on, working together with our partners. During the visit to the USA, we discussed this issue at several important meetings to get their support in the directions of seed production, the introduction of new technologies, and the provision of equipment, therefore, increasing self-sufficiency and being less dependent on imports”, Otar Shamugia said.
Throughout the country, the harvesting of grain crops is going on smoothly, observing the harvest dates. 78 combine harvesters of “Agricultural Logistics and Services Company” LLC have been mobilized.
32 harvesters purchased with co-financing are involved in the harvesting process within the framework of the state program of the Rural Development Agency “Co-financing of harvesting agricultural machinery”.
The co-financing of the agency for the purchase of the mentioned combines exceeds 3 million GEL.
