Program aimed at the fight against the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) and fungus of a number of crops in agriculture will be funded with 45 MLN GEL in 2019.
As noted by Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia at the press briefing held prior to the Executive Government Meeting today, Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia has been instructed to cover not only the BMSB as a challenge within the program, but also problems associated with plant fungus.
"We have had an impressive statistics last year, as exports in the agriculture sector of the country reached almost a billion GEL. I believe that this is yet another very strong message to sceptics, who often claim that agriculture has no future in Georgia. Backyard farming has no commercial prospect, i,e, when a peasant is forced to consume his/her own produce. Agriculture as an industry has prospects in Georgia, though it needs to have proper focus and highlights. We should predominantly focus on such crops that stand out with their competitive advantage. Last year our statistical data would have been even more impressive if not one of the most pressing challenges facing us in the last two years - BMSB and its penetration into the country. I strongly believe that our program for the current year is further polished and agreed with leading international experts. I am convinced that successful implementation of the program will lead to the increased export volumes by regaining the position held 2 years ago" concluded the Prime Minister of Georgia.
