Agriculture Minister: no risk of food shortages in Georgia
Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili noted that based on the Georgian supply chain of supermarkets there is no any foundation for interruption in the food supply. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Georgian Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili says that there is no risk of food shortages in Georgia due to the coronavirus.
Davitashvili met the heads of the large supermarkets earlier today to discuss food stocks and the issue of price regulation.
Along with the fight against the spread of the new coronavirus, we are continuously working with all stakeholders involved in providing food to the population,” said Davitashvili.
Davitashvili discussed food stocks and the issue of price regulation at the meeting. Photo: Ministry of Agriculture.
He said that the main goal is to avoid an absurd increase in prices and not to have an interruption in the food supply.
Monitoring is carried out every day to protect the interests of the population as much as possible,” said Davitashvili.
He noted that based on the Georgian supply chain of supermarkets there is no any foundation for interruption in the food supply.
Georgia confirmed four new cases of coronavirus earlier today, with the total number of infected individuals in the country standing at 37. Since February 26, 2020 Georgia has had 38 confirmed cases of COVID-19. However, one patient has recovered and was discharged. Director of Tbilisi Hospital of Infections Diseases Marina Ezugbaia said that the new patients had contact with one of the individuals who tested positive for the respiratory infection earlier and is now in hospital.
Georgian health officials say that Georgia is between the containment and the spread of China-born COVID-19 virus, a respiratory infection which has infected 34 in Georgia since February 26, 2020. Head of Georgia’s Hospital of Infectious Diseases Tenzig Tsertsvadze says as of now the ‘trace has not been lost’ and all the infected know how they contracted the virus. "We have managed to contain the virus so far. However, now we are on the verge of the virus spreading,” Tsertsvadze said.
The Minister of Health of Georgia Ekaterine Tikaridze says the country has enough resources to cope with the coronavirus, including medical staff and equipment.
Elderly beneficiaries of care homes in Tbilisi will receive food for free starting from today, as soup kitchens have temporarily closed in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus-Covid-19, reports the press office of Tbilisi City Hall.
The US government has announced a rapid response grant programme for Georgian civil society organisations, civic movements and citizen groups to help the country respond to challenges caused by COVID-19 virus in a timely manner.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is committed to providing support to Georgia under the challenging and uncertain circumstances due to the coronavirus, said IMF Resident Representative in Georgia Selim Cakir.
Around 10 Georgian companies have launched production of face masks in a move to prevent an outbreak of the new coronavirus, with the first batch set to be purchased by the government.
Companies involved in Georgia's private sector will contribute to efforts against the new coronavirus outbreak, with the government providing a platform for pooling the joint resources.
A price restraint mechanism is ready and has been agreed upon between business and the government. Specifically, prices for nine products will not increase in Georgia, said the Prime Minister’s Spokesperson Irakli Chikovani earlier today.
Georgian Agriculture Ministry will spend 16 million GEL ($4.86 mln/€4.42 mln) to make sugar, oil and pasta stocks in the country due to the coronavirus outbreak.The ministry will buy 5,000 tonnes of sugar, 500 tonnes of pasta and 1.5 tonnes of sunflower oil.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili says that food supplies are regularly monitored and "we have an encouraging situation". He said that there is also enough wheat supply in Georgia and if necessary the country will fill the supplies "from alternative sources and geographical areas".
Georgia has received 6,000 tonnes of wheat via Poti port in western Georgia earlier today. An additional 12,000 tonnes of wheat is expected to arrive in the near future. The wheat was imported by Bevrili Group, a Georgian company that processes flour and produces bread products.