New state-supported snail farm to export 45 tons to Italy
The new farm is expected to produce about 50 tons of snail annually. Photos via Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia press office.
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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.
Georgia needs industrialisation of agricultural sector and increased productivity, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said earlier today at a presentation of the government’s agricultural anti-crisis plan.
Farmers in 22 municipalities of Georgia will have the opportunity to obtain co-financing under a 3.2 million GEL (about $1m/€0.92m) grant programme offered by the European Union (EU), the Agriculture Ministry of Georgia and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for the purchase and installation of modern drip irrigation systems.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia met with farmers of the Shida Kartli region of Georgia today, talked about the challenges the agriculture sector faces and introduced the government's plans to help the sector.
Farmers will now be able to insure their perennial plants for up to three years and annual plants for one year with the help of a state agricultural insurance programme, says the Agriculture and Rural Development Agency.
The European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) have assisted Georgian eco-migrant Giorgi Abuladze to expand his broccoli farm.
A new Georgian processing plant will produce 1,000 tonnes of snails annually for export to France, the Ministry of Economy announced on Wednesday.