According to the decision adopted at the meeting of the Government of Georgia, the state program “Co-financing of refrigerated warehouses for storage of berry crops for agricultural cooperatives” will be implemented.
According to the Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture Otar Shamugia, the planting of more than 2,500 hectares of blueberries has been financed within the framework of the “Plant the Future” program in recent years. The projected harvest in the coming years is about 20-25 thousand tons. As of the 7th month of this year, 3,000 tons of blueberries worth more than $18 million were exported from Georgia, which is 118% higher than in the same period last year, EastFruit notes.
“Once the orchards planted with state support come into full operation, we will have a large crop of blueberries. Which, of course, will be a major source of income for West Georgia farmers. However, as you know, berry crops are perishable, so it is important that we simultaneously help farmers create refrigerator farms where they will store their harvest and then gradually sell it. I think this program will support relatively small and medium-sized farmers,” said Environment and Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia.
The Rural Development Agency will implement the state program. Warehouse refrigerators designed to store at least 30 tons of produce will be financed. Co-financing for one potential beneficiary was determined in the amount of no more than 70% of the cost of the warehouse but no more than 250,000 GEL (about $96,000). To participate in the program, an agricultural cooperative and/or at least five subordinate institutions must have a blueberry, blackberry, or raspberry orchard of at least 10 hectares in one municipality under the projects/programs.
For more information: east-fruit.com