Over 300 hectares of new peach and plum orchards have been established across Georgia through the government’s initiative called ‘Plant the Future’. The program, with the goal of fruit production and supporting rural incomes, has attracted over 4.3 million GEL in total investment, including 1.7 million GEL in state co-financing.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture emphasized the success of the initiative during a recent visit to Kakheti. Minister Davit Songulashvili met with farmer Nikoloz Getiashvili in Gurjaani, one of the program’s beneficiaries. Getiashvili’s diversified orchard, now spanning 28 hectares, includes peach, plum, apricot and cherry plum trees. He expects to harvest around 250 tons of fruit this season.
With approximately 20,000 GEL in support from ‘Plant the Future’ and over 240,000 GEL in preferential agrocredit, Getiashvili has turned his farm into a model of successful rural enterprise. During the visit, primary challenges in production and infrastructure were discussed, including the importance of cold storage and fruit processing facilities.
As the Ministry declared, these state-backed efforts are critical to increasing agricultural productivity and improving livelihoods in rural regions.
