The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, David Songulashvili, attended the opening of the Citrus Coordination Center alongside Zurab Pataridze, Chairman of the Government of Adjara, and Denis Salukvadze, Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Adjara.

The center aims to facilitate the marketing of export-quality tangerines, coordinate maritime and land-based logistics, ensure the uninterrupted operation of citrus collection and processing facilities, and address seasonal issues in cooperation with the relevant agencies.

“Ensuring the successful management of the citrus season requires providing farmers with opportunities to sell their harvest while enabling citrus collection and processing facilities to operate without interruption. Moreover, the Coordination Center will facilitate cooperation between relevant agencies and the private sector to address seasonal issues promptly. Our efforts will support both marketing export-quality tangerines and collecting and processing non-standard fruit. Ensuring the full utilization of the harvest and providing farmers with opportunities to market their produce remain key priorities for the Government”, - stated David Songulashvili.

Under a decision by the Government of Adjara, non-standard tangerines intended for industrial processing will receive a state subsidy of GEL 0.35 per kg, and the processing facilities will pay an additional GEL 0.05 per kg. Accordingly, the farmers will receive GEL 0.40 per kg for non-standard tangerines.

According to preliminary estimates, citrus production in Adjara will reach 40,000– 45,000 tonnes this year. More than 20 citrus collection and processing facilities will receive export-quality tangerines, while two canning factories in Kobuleti will process the non-standard fruit in unlimited quantities.

The Citrus Coordination Center was established with the support of the Government of Adjara, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Adjara. The Center will coordinate the issuance of documentation and permits required for export products and monitor the implementation of the subsidy programme for non-standard tangerines.

Throughout the season, citizens and other interested parties will obtain information on citrus-related matters by calling the hotline at 1501. The Coordination Center will remain operational until February 1.

Giorgi Tskrialashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture; Giorgi Iakobashvili, Head of the National Food Agency; and representatives of local authorities also attended the event.