Negative tendencies in agriculture

According to statistical data both the quantity of food produced in Georgia and the amount of cultivated land are decreasing. The amount of useable land in Georgia has decreased from 700,000 hectares in 1990 to 297,000 hectares in 2007.

The agricultural sector will receive GEL 12 million from the budget in 2009. Eventually, together with other programmes, it should receive 20 million in total. Much of this will be utilized in securing the grape vintage, but there is a much more difficult situation in wheat production, which is purely subsidised.

Leader of the Christian Democrats Giorgi Targamadze thinks that the dire situation in the Georgian agricultural system is a result of the presence in the Georgian economy of monopolies. He suggests that thus it is more profitable in Georgia to import food rather than produce it locally. He urges the reinstatement of the anti-monopoly service.