PM praises agricultural progress achieved with aid of EU

Georgia’s Prime Minister, together with the EU Ambassador to Georgia Janos Herman and Minister of Agriculture Levan Davitashvili, has summarized the achievements of the first phase of the European neighborhood programme for agriculture and rural development (ENPARD), covering 2014-2017.

Today’s conference was held under the title "For a Better Rural Life.”

Kvirikashvili stated that through the program, residents of rural Georgian areas have received "direct support from the EU.”

Such programs are signals of trust from our partners,” Kvirikashvili stated and highlighted the importance of ENPARD for implementing Georgia’s Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deal with the EU.

Great work #ENPARD! Estimated 250.000 #Georgians in rural areas directly benefited from the programme. #GOG has developed modern strategies to address Agriculture, Rural Development and Agricultural Extension.Another step to further deepen #Georgia's #EU integration #EU4Georgiapic.twitter.com/RcpFdos8pS

— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) December 13, 2017

ENPARD allocated €77.5 million for its third phase, while the total amount of the entire three-phase support amounted to €180 million,” Kvirikashvili said.

The support is of huge importance for our country,” the PM added.

Kvirikashvili stated that since 2013, ENPARD has been actively supported Georgian agriculture and its financial contribution made the agricultural sector reform possible.

#EU support to #Georgian agriculture and rural development has exceeded 500 million GEL in grants. 250000+ beneficiaries, new agriproducts, new EU market access. #EUintegration process delivers tangible results to Georgia. Grateful to the #EU and @EUinGeorgia#EU4Georgiapic.twitter.com/KL1sEEml4x

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) December 13, 2017

The PM said that ENPARD financial support has:

•  Boosted economic opportunities in rural parts of the country, providing for more possibilities of employment and better living conditions. This happened thanks to the encouragement of small farmer cooperatives and better availability of all necessary resources.
• Allowed more than 280 cooperatives to receive direct financial and technical support from the EU.
• Given more than 1,000 cooperatives grants.
• Launched and successfully implemented agricultural pilot programs in Lagodekhi, Borjomi and Kazbegi.
• Financed more than 120 initiatives for agriculture, tourism, social services, infrastructure and the environmental protection. Within the initiatives more than 700 families were employees and more than 8,000 rural people improved their living conditions.

Kvirikashvili stated that the ENPARD third phase funds would go towards providing for better living and working conditions in villages and for settling environmental issues.