Georgia has made significant progress across all areas of agriculture, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said at an event marking Farmer’s Day. He highlighted the sector’s role in economic development, food security, social stability and rural development.
According to Kobakhidze, agricultural business output reached nearly GEL 20 billion last year, 2.5 times higher than in 2012. Agricultural GDP rose to GEL 5.4 billion, accounting for almost 6% of the national economy, while the number of people employed in rural areas exceeded 577,000.
Kobakhidze also said Georgia’s agri-food exports reached a record $1.845 billion last year, with products sold to more than 110 countries. Exports were up 14% year-on-year in the first seven months of this year and account for around 24% of the country’s total exports.
He said the government launched a unified Agro Co-Financing State Program and a farmers’ registry this year to support local production, import substitution and export growth. Kobakhidze also noted growing interest in agriculture among young people and an increase in the number of women farmers.
