Agriculture Minister says agribusiness production reached $6.1 bln in 2023

Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia on Wednesday told the country’s Parliament the output of domestic agribusiness products had reached a “record-high” number ₾16.6 billion ($6.1 bln) last year, marking an average of 10 percent annual increase.

In his report on the Ministry’s 2023 work and related statistics, Shamugia told lawmakers the data was the outcome of the implementation of the Government support programmes over the last five years.

Overall investments in the agricultural industry exceeded ₾7.5 billion ($2.7 bln), of which the state provided almost ₾2.0 billion ($738 mln) in co-financing, the official also cited from the figures, adding new initiatives and programmes provided the opportunity and incentive for farmers and the business sector to invest in agriculture.

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Unemployment in rural areas decreased by 7.8 percentage points over the past years, with the lowest rate standing at 14.6 percent, he also said.

Shamugia also told MPs the rate was further improved and reduced to 13.5 percent in the data of the first quarter of this year.

The official added more than 100,000 individuals were employed, both permanently and seasonally, in enterprises and orchards supported by the country’s Government.