Georgia can increase wheat self-sufficiency to 50%, Agriculture Minister says
Shamugia emphasised the importance of increasing the self-sufficiency of primary consumption products in the “shortest possible time“ and ensuring food security in the face of the crisis in the Black Sea region caused by the war in Ukraine. Photo: Georgian Agriculture Ministry
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Georgia has the resources to increase its wheat self-sufficiency to 50 percent, Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia said on Wednesday, noting the state was ready to develop “stimulating projects” aimed at increasing wheat production in the country.
During a meeting between the Minister and farmers producing grain crops, the needs and challenges of the sector for ensuring the growth of crop production were discussed, and a decision was made to develop proposals and support mechanisms by relevant agencies of the Ministry to tackle the issue.
The farmers informed the Minister about the importance of an organised supply of highly productive seed material, accessibility to financial resources and relevant equipment for working capital, issues of land privatisation and lease, introduction of new sowing technologies, improvement of agricultural insurance and access to irrigation water and arrangement of windbreaks. Photo: Georgian Agriculture Ministry
Shamugia emphasised the importance of increasing the self-sufficiency of primary consumption products in the “shortest possible time“ and ensuring food security in the face of the crisis in the Black Sea region caused by the war in Ukraine.
The official said the Government had been focused on promoting local production import substitution throughout the years, noting it had resulted in a “significant increase” in the production of Georgian commodities, their sale in the local market, and export.
Earlier this week, Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said Georgia had wheat resources enough to last over a month, and more could be imported if necessary for food security.
In 2021, Georgia purchased 367,000 tons of wheat worth $93.5 million, including 338,000 tons worth $87.4 million from Russia and 24.4 thousand tons worth $4.6 million from the United States.
Georgia has wheat resources enough for more than a month and more can be imported if necessary for food security, Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said earlier today.
Georgia’s wine export growth rate reached more than 40 percent in January-February 2022, the Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia said on Monday, adding the figure reflected the “purposeful policy” of the Georgian Government.
Georgian farmers will be able to get low-interest loans for production of annual crops, following latest changes to the preferential agro-credit state programme, Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia announced on Monday.
Problems related to the supply of wheat and flour in Georgia are neither observed nor expected, Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said on Wednesday, adding it was foreseeable the export tax would be removed and the country would be able to buy wheat “on better terms and cheaper.”
Production of perennial crops in Georgia has increased by 33 percent in recent years and amounted to 600,000 tonnes, Otar Shamugia, the Agriculture Minister of the country, said on Thursday.
Vegetable production in Georgia has increased by 15 percent in recent years and amounted to 176.1 tonnes, Otar Shamugia, the Agriculture Minister of the country, said on Thursday.
Georgian wheat production in 2021 increased by 32.9 percent to 136,100 tonnes, while the production of vegetables decreased by 15.4 percent to 149,000 tonnes year-on-year, the National Statistics Office of Georgia announced on Friday.
Georgia and Moldova are facing “common challenges” in the wake of the two countries’ formal European Union membership bids after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister, said while stressing the importance of a “positive outcome” of the applications for the two states on Saturday.
Malkhaz Dolidze, the Head of the Georgian Bread Manufacturers Union, on Monday said the price of the product in Georgia is not expected to increase until the end of May, following a recent particle increase.
Georgian producers can count on “more than enough” stocks of flour and wheat, while in just a month and a half the country will also add its own harvest to the reserves, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Monday following questions raised on possible shortages of the products.
A total of 4,305 preferential loans worth ₾70.9 million ($23.7mln/€22mln) have been issued in Georgia since March 22 to promote cultivation of annual crops, the Georgian Agriculture Ministry announced on Thursday.
Georgia has a sufficient supply of flour to prevent an increase in price of bread at this stage, Malkhaz Dolidze, the Head of the Georgian Bread Manufacturers Union, said on Monday.
The Georgian Government has decided to ban the export of wheat and barley from the country over the next year starting on July 4, Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister, said on Tuesday.
Food safety and transfer of modern technology and knowledge to farmers in Georgia were discussed between Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia and United States officials in Washington, the Ministry announced on Friday.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia summarised his visit to the United States on Monday by noting the US would support Georgian wheat production.
About 80 combines owned by a state company are involved in harvesting wheat in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti where the annual harvest is coming to an end, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Thursday.
Georgian agriculture minister Otar Shamugia on Tuesday reviewed the current food security situation and challenges in Georgia at the 50th session of the committee on world food security, with the event hosted in Rome.
Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister, on Monday said the Government was allocating ₾16 million ($6 mln) to promotion of Georgian products in “strategic” foreign markets, including in the United States and Europe, this year.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday pledged “maximum support” and “additional measures” to support farmers involved in wheat production, while also announcing financial aid to winemakers affected by adverse weather last month.
The Georgian Wheat Producers Association on Thursday said a draft resolution by the Russian Government on banning hard wheat exports from the country starting next month would have “no influence” on the Georgian market.