22,000 tonnes of Georgian mandarins exported, says Gov’t

Georgian mandarin farmers a reaping the benefits of a successful season after the country exported more than 22,000 tonnes of mandarins to about a dozen countries last year.

The Ministry of Agriculture summarised the results of a program that supported the use of mandarins for industrial processing and export.

The data showed Georgia exported 22,118 tonnes of mandarins.

In total, Georgian farmers grew 10,345 tonnes of tangerines for industrial processing. In return they gained two million GEL income while state subsidies amounted to one million GEL.

The Government of Georgia started supporting the mandarin industry in November 2014. Mandarin processing companies that purchased 1kg of mandarins for 0.20 GEL received a state subsidy of 0.10 GEL.

Four companies were involved in the support program – they were Georgian Industrial Asset Management Group, TCF Georgia, Geo-Flower and Geo-Concentrate.

As well as benefiting from the state subsidy, the companies were able to take a credit which was offered by the Preferential Agro Credit Project. Today, just over 1.5 million GEL is approved for five companies.

To date 82 shipping companies are registered in the program. Together they have a total of 367 land transports. These companies are ready to ship Georgia’s mandarins to more than ten countries.

In addition, pavilions were registered in Georgia’s Adjara, Guria and Samegrelo region.

The Ministry said the project would further stimulate mandarin growth and support the industry now and in the future.