United Agro Project: All Georgia’s agricultural programs under one umbrella

PM Kvirikashvili presented the United Agro Project – a broader approach to the agricultural sector that united all of the existing agricultural programs of the country. Photo by PM’s press office
Agenda.ge, 21 Jun 2016 - 14:23, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Government has launched a new initiative allowing farmers from all over Georgia to easily learn about the existing and new agricultural services offered by the state and how to better benefit from these agricultural programs.

Today Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili presented the United Agro Project – a broader approach to the agricultural sector that united all of the existing agricultural programs of the country.

PM Kvirikashvili speaks at the presentation of the United Agro Project. Photo by PM's press office

Kvirikashvili said having all of the current and future agricultural programs united under one umbrella would make it easier for farmers to identify what programs they could best benefit from.

He said the United Agro Project would also let the state to better communicate information about the available agricultural support with farmers.

The Georgian leader believed this new initiative would make the work of the Government "more efficient”.

"We have decided from today, to gather all the ongoing projects under the United Agro Project to make our work more efficient and let people get more benefits from the state agricultural programs,” Kvirikashvili said, adding this would greatly contribute to the "positive changes” the Government planned in agriculture.

The PM said he was aware that many problems still needed to be addressed in the villages but promised the Government would fix these issues "step by step”.

"We have enough resources to strengthen the villages, develop our agriculture and ensure our products meet international standards and we will definitely achieve this,” Kvirikashvili said.
"High quality production from Georgia will find its place in European and other international markets. Georgian villages will become economically strong and our people [will be] proud,” he added.

Kvirikashvili said the Georgian Dream Government had "proven with actions” that agriculture was among the country’s top priorities.

As of today there are six ongoing agricultural programs gathered under the United Agro Project. These are:

  1. Preferential Agro Credit;
  2. Enterprise Co-financing;
  3. Agro Insurance;
  4. Plant the Future;
  5. Assist Smallholder Farmers to Conduct Spring Works;
  6. Georgian Tea.

More than 200,000 hectares of land was cultivated annually since 2013. Photo by PM's press office

Here are some statistics showing what has been done within these agricultural programs in recent years:

  • Establishment of 150 new enterprises was financed;
  • Enlargement of 700 enterprises was financed;
  • More than 700,000 farmers received annual financial support for agricultural works since 2013;
  • More than 200,000 hectares of land was cultivated annually since 2013.