Gov't to subsidise substandard apples by 10 tetri

The government of Georgia is subsidising the cost of apples as a way to support fruit growers and processing companies, announces Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.

We have to make a decision on subsidising the purchase of substandard [industrial] apples by 10 tetri", Gakharia said at today's government meeting. 

He pointed out that eventually the price of one kilogram apple for farmers will be not less than 22 tetri.

Gakharia said that during the economic crisis the government is helping various sectors of the economy, including agriculture. He said that the main goal is that not a ‘single gram of our farmers' produce should be left unutilised'.

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As you know the government is subsidising the purchase of grapes this year, and the next step we will take will be to [help] store the apple harvest too. The price of apples in the international markets has dropped a lot this year, so on the recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture, we have to make a decision to subsidise the purchase of substandard apples by 10 tetri", Gakharia said.

A coordination centre overseeing the apple harvest, which operates under the supervision of the government, has already begun operating.

Gakharia said that the programme for subsidising substandard apples will continue until December 2020. 

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.