Otar Shamugia, Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture, together with the State Commissioner of Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti, Papuna Margvelidze, inspected the family cellar “Tamani” equipped with modern standards in the village of Gveso in Tsageri municipality.
During the inspection, Otar Shamugia said, “Georgian Winegrowers have the opportunity to create mines in Racha and lower Svaneti, process their own grapes, and get more income.”
Otar Shamugia communicated, “Promoting the development of vineyard-winery is one of the main priorities for the Ministry. We carry out several projects supporting vinegrowers and winemakers. Lechkhumi is one of the outstanding corners in the direction of winemaking and vineyards. The harvest was also successful this year, and more than 1000 tons of grapes were processed. In the highland regions, we are implementing a program to promote entrepreneurship development, including the creation of cells.”‘ “The project allows vinegrowers in Racha and Lower Svaneti to create vineyards, process their grapes, and earn more income by realizing the wine they have produced,” he added
The cellar owner, Ekaterine Tsvariani, is a beneficiary of the Rural Development Agency’s programs. He built the “Tamani” family cellar and equipped it with modern inventory as part of the “Entrepreneurship Promotion Program in High-rise Settlements.”
It also benefits from the state project “discounted agro credit.” For business development, the entrepreneur received approximately 50,000 GEL co-financing from the Rural Development Agency.
Ekaterine Tsvariani produces bio wine from Tsolikauri variety grapes. He runs the family farm with his wife and children. In 2024, the family got and recycled grapes in the new cellar.
Along with the minister, Solomon Pavliashvili, Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti Majoritarian MP Gocha Enukidze, the Director of the Rural Development Agency David Tsitlidze, and representatives of the local government visited the family cellar “Tamani.”
It is worth noting that the Rural Development Agency implements the “Program for Promoting Entrepreneurship in Highland Settlements.” Within the program, the contract was signed for 59 beneficiaries.
The investment amount amounted to more than 8.8 million GEL, from which the Rural Development Agency’s co-financing exceeds 4.5 million GEL. In the Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti region, the investments of 21 beneficiaries amounted to more than 2.6 million GEL, from which the agency’s co-financing will exceed 1.4 million GEL.
