The European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have awarded 84 matching grants with a total amount of three million GEL to Georgian farmers in 2020. As InterPressNews was informed, as part of the country support programmes through the pandemic, grant support for the Georgian agriculture sector aimed at increasing production, creating extra jobs, and preventing instability in food supplies.

The awarded matching grants co-funded capital investments, such as mechanization for land processing and production; the purchase of cattle farming equipment; equipment for large-scale dairy and vegetable production; and many more. For promoting and supporting climate-smart, cost-reducing agricultural methods, the EU and FAO massively contributed in procuring and installing drip irrigation systems for farmers.

"Apart from the three million GEL in those grants which have already been awarded by December 2020, 18 more grant applications previously approved are in the process of being delivered for a total value of additional GEL 2.6 million.

This matching grant component under the ENPARD programme supports farmers, rural households, cooperatives and SMEs who operate in the municipalities of Akhalakalaki, Borjomi, Dedoplitskaro, Kazbegi, Keda, Khulo, Lagodekhi, Tetriskaro, Akhaltsikhe, Dusheti, Khelvachauri, Shuakhevi, Marneuli, Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Gardabani, Tsalka, Ninotsminda, Aspindza, Kvareli, Gurjaani and Sighnaghi", - reads the statement.

Gabriel Dzebisashvili, a farmer from the Dusheti municipality, is one of the beneficiaries of the programme. He mainly works within livestock production, but along with his cattle, he also processes a 200-hectare plot to grow rye and barley. After being awarded with a matching grant from the EU and FAO, Gabriel was able to purchase a brand-new tractor.

“As a result, I was able to expand my business. I have already hired several people and will need more workers when the agricultural season begins. I actively advise all my fellow farmers around the country to apply for this FAO/ENPARD grant programme”, - the farmer says.

While Gabriel has big plans for the next season, Gocha Sujashvili from the Kazbegi municipality is happy to save a lot of energy and hard work with his new beekeeping equipment obtained under the grants programme. He and his family have spent decades making honey and other beekeeping products.

“I won’t have to physically work so hard anymore with these new tools. Having so much time and money saved I can spend more time with my family and consider expanding my production”, - Sujashvili said.

EU and FAO grants are awarded to small, medium and large sale productions alike. The matching grant support ranges from 1000 up to 150,000 USD for large-scale producers, co-funding up to 60% of the investment costs.

EU and FAO support has come at a critical time for the agriculture facing challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic. FAO-EU Programme Coordinator Javier Sanz Alvarez underlines the importance of the financial support to Georgian farmers: “We believe that EU and FAO grant support can grow local production, reduce farmers’ costs, and increase their profit while using environment-friendly, modern, climate-smart agricultural equipment. The matching grant programme is aimed at easing producers’ access to innovation and make farms and agricultural enterprises more sustainable and resilient in the times of the pandemic.”

source: IPN