Georgian Tea program:
Local cooperative rehabilitates 10ha plantation in country’s west

An old, abandoned tea plantation measuring just over 10 hectares is being restored in Georgia’s Imereti region within the Georgian Tea state program.

Local cooperative Khaverdovani Chai [Velvet Tea] received 20,580 GEL (about $9,616/€8,647*) - about 80 percent of the total amount needed to rehabilitate the 10.5ha tea plantation in Imereti.

The complete cost of the tea plantation renovation was 25,725 GEL (about $12,021/€10,808*), with the remaining 20 percent of costs to be spent by Khaverdovani Chai itself on general operating costs.

Khaverdovani Chai will be responsible for rehabilitating the old, unused facility into a working tea plantation within 24-36 months and once operational the tea plantation will be handed over to the cooperative.

Georgia’s Agriculture Projects Management Agency said all equipment needed to operate the new tea plantation would be gifted to the cooperative "without any charge”.

The Georgian Tea program was created by Georgia’s Agriculture and Economy Ministries in November 2015 and aimed to rehabilitate 7,000ha of tea plantations step-by-step in Georgia.

The first stage of the program started in February this year, which focused on supporting local and biologically clean tea production in Etsera village.

At the same time the state is supporting small tea processing businesses and has launched certification programs with the help of donor organisations to ensure tea produced in Georgia meets high, international standards.

All these efforts will make it easier for Georgian tea to be exported to European markets.

Looking ahead the Government will also establish a state program that supports tea storage facilities. This will expand the country’s tea season and yield by allowing products to be better stored.

*Currencies are equivalent with the latest National Bank of Georgia exchange rate.