Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia visited the village of Vartsikhe in the Baghdati Municipality, where he observed the blueberry harvesting and processing operations at the local company “Agrolane”. During the visit, David Songulashvili met with farmers involved in blueberry cultivation and heard about their updates on harvesting, storage, and sales.

“Due to the active support of the state, including assistance in financing, education, technology, and market access - blueberry orchards now span more than 2,700 hectares across Georgia. Blueberries, along with hazelnuts and citrus, have become a key source of income for farmers and agribusinesses in Western Georgia. Furthermore, Georgia exported more than USD 28 million (5.0 thousand tonnes) of blueberries last year, marking a 33% increase compared to 2023. This growth is driven by the production of high-quality blueberries that meet modern standards”, - said the Minister.

LTD ‘’Agrolane’’ represents a full-cycle blueberry production enterprise, integrating primary production, processing, and export. Its success is attributed to a combination of effective state support and sound business management.

Established with government financial support, LTD ‘’Agrolane’s’’ modern processing facility in Vartsikhe village has attracted more than GEL 3.5 million in total investment, including over GEL 420,000 in grants from the Rural Development Agency and approximately GEL 800,000 in preferential agro-credit. The facility employs 60 local workers during the harvest season and processes up to 300 tonnes of blueberries annually for local and export markets.

This year, the “Agrolane” will export blueberries to Israel for the first time while also planning to expand its exports to India. Negotiations are ongoing for market entry into Japan. The company established international partnerships at the ‘’Foodex Japan’’ exhibition in Tokyo, where it participated with the support of the Rural Development Agency. “Agrolane” currently cultivates 17 varieties of blueberries across 36 hectares and maintains strong cooperation with local farmers in the Imereti region. Moreover, the company ensures rapid cooling, sorting, and packaging of the harvest from orchards grown on 100 hectares.