The government of Georgia has decided to increase the subsidy amount for substandard apples and pay 22 tetri per per one kilogram of substandard apples instead of 10 tetri, Qs was announced earlier. 

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia explained that the goal is to support farmers in Georgia to handle  economic challenges caused by COVID-19.

He said that this year about 120,000 tonnes of apples are expected to be harvested which is ‘three times more than last year’.

Not a single kilogram of our farmers’ produce should be left unutilised. That is why we are adding a new component to the ‘Preferential Agro Credit’ programme, which will enable the Ministry of Agriculture and purchasing companies not to leave any apples unpurchased”, Gakharia said.

He said that if it were not for this programme the price of one kilogram of substandard apples would be 10 tetri as the price of apples in the international markets has dropped. 

Now the farmers will receive 22 tetri per kilogram of apples which is serious support in this crisis for them”, said Gakharia.

Substandard apples are apples which fall from trees because of wind, hail or other weather phenomena. Mostly, substandard apples are unsuitable for eating and being cheaper than standard apples, they are used by factories to prepare apple concentrate.