September 3 2008, 10:25

Georgia: grape harvest down 1.5 times

In 2008, Georgia expects for grape harvest at the level of 130.000 tonnes, down almost 100.000 tonnes compared to the last year, the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic reported to Interfax.

In 2007, Georgia harvested 235.000 tonnes of grapes (up 45% compared to 2006). This year, 45% decrease of the harvest is forecasted.

According to the representative of the Ministry, such forecast is based not only by unfavorable weather conditions, but damage inflicted to infrastructure and in particular to vineyards as a result of the August events.

“Grape plantations were seriously damaged in the regions Shida Karli and Imereti, therefore the stake as before is manly on Kahetia – the largest viticulture region of the country”,- noted the interlocutor of the agency.

According to him, harvesting of grapes should start in the end of the current week, however, they have not accepted decision on wine-growers’ financing yet.

In contrast to the previous years, when subsidies were allocated to wineries, this year the Government of Georgia intended to allocate subsidies in $14.1 mln sum directly to the producers of grapes.