The state program for the promotion of hazelnut production envisages subsidizing the cost of agrochemicals and pesticides necessary for the maintenance and cultivation of hazelnuts. The strengthening of the control mechanism on the part of the Rural Development Agency envisages the procedure by which the agricultural stores will be obliged to carry out a systematic accounting of the sale of the products determined within the scope of the state program.

Deputy Director of Rural Development Agency Natalia Kharatishvili and Mayor of Zugdidi Mamuka Tsopris were present at the meeting held in Zugdidi, where representatives of agro-stores were introduced to the special conditions for cashing out agropoints accrued within the framework of the nut production program.

"In order for the farmers to get a quality harvest of nuts, it is important to take appropriate measures into the orchards, taking into account the collection period, and use the state aid in a targeted manner. We introduced the conditions to the representatives of the agro-stores according to which they should act when cashing out the accrued subsidy," said Deputy Director of the Rural Development Agency Natalia Kharatishvili.

Under the conditions established by the program, farmers who own and/or actually own a hazelnut orchard of not less than 0.2 ha and not more than 3 ha. They will receive an aid of 500 GEL per hectare from the state.

The subsidy is given to the persons involved in the program by accruing the corresponding points on the Liberty Bank agro-card. The process of redeeming points will start from March of this year and it will be possible to use it in more than 500 specialized agricultural stores operating throughout Georgia until August 31, 2024.