Gov't allocates 14 mln GEL to save grapes damaged by heavy hail in Kakheti
In August heavy hail and strong winds destroyed 4,600 ha of vineyards in about 30 villages in the municipalities of Kvareli, Telavi and Gurjaani. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The Georgian government has allocated 14 million GEL in subsidies to assist in the harvesting of grapes damaged by heavy hail in the Georgian wine region of Kakheti on August 27 and September 2.
The government is also subsidising the 2021 grape harvest to financially support farmers during the pandemic.
- Georgian government to subsidise 2021 grape harvest due to high grape yield, post-pandemic situation
In August heavy hail and strong winds destroyed 4,600 ha of vineyards in about 30 villages in the municipalities of Kvareli, Telavi and Gurjaani.
To save the remaining grapes farmers decided to start the grape harvest in August, instead of in September this year.
As of September 29, about 200,000 tonnes of grapes have been processed in Kakheti, announces the Georgian National Wine Agency.
About 20,000 farmers received 220 million GEL by selling harvested grapes, says the agency.
Heavy hail has damaged vineyards and houses in several municipalities of the Georgian wine region of Kakheti. Kakheti Governor Irakli Shioshvili promised that all the damaged houses would be repaired. The amount of damage has not been determined at this stage.
In total 164,000 tonnes of grapes have been processed in the Georgian wine region of Kakheti as of September 22, announces the Georgian National Wine Agency. Out of the processed grapes, about 96,000 tonnes were of the Rkatsiteli variety, 60,000 tonnes were Saperavi, 3,300 tonnes were Kakhuri Mtsvane and the remaining were different grape varieties.
The grape harvest has started early in the Georgian wine region of Kakheti after heavy hail and wind destroyed 4,600 ha of vineyards in about 30 villages this week. Farmers are picking hail-damaged grapes in the towns of Kvareli, Gurjaani, Lagodekhi and Telavi in Kakheti.
Heavy rain, hail and wind have hit Akhmeta, Gurjanai and Sagarejo municipalities in Georgia’s eastern region of Kakheti damaging agricultural land plots and roads.
Specific measures necessary for an “organised and successful” grape harvest in Georgia this season were discussed by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Government officials earlier today.