New state-supported snail farm to export 45 tons to Italy

A new farm established in western Georgia with support of the government will export 45 tons of snails to Italy this year.

Built as part of the Joint Agroproject programme of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the Nadi Group farm will mainly work on exporting production to European Union markets, minister Levan Davitashvili said.

Located in the Samegrelo province's Khobi Municipality village of New Khibula, the farm's establishment saw an investment of 1,86 million GEL ($607,000/€531,000) by the ministry.

Davitashvili said in his comments while visiting the farm his ministry had a priority of agricultural directions associated with "greater value", while noting the snail export would entail a profit of several thousand Euros per hectare for involved farmers.

The new farm is projected to produce about 50 tons of snails annually, with 15 locals employed on a permanent basis.