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Georgian authorities have adjusted grape purchasing prices following two days of protests by growers in the Kakheti region. Farmers had blocked roads and halted deliveries to express dissatisfaction with the government’s initial pricing scheme, which they argued failed to cover production costs such as labor, chemicals, and transportation.
The demonstrations began in the village of Shilda in Kvareli Municipality before spreading to Akhalsopeli and Velistsikhe. Growers also raised concerns regarding the accuracy of sugar content measurements at state-run purchasing facilities, noting discrepancies between their own tests and those conducted by buyers.
The protests occurred during what officials have described as an unprecedented harvest, with Agriculture Minister Davit Songhulashvili projecting a yield exceeding 320 tons. However, the minister noted that climate conditions have hindered the development of sugar levels in some grapes, complicating the harvest process.
Under the original pricing structure, state payments were differentiated based on sugar content and grape condition, with some lower-tier grapes priced at GEL 0.3 per kilogram. Following consultations with the government, National Wine Agency chair Levan Mekhuzla announced revised terms on September 22. The new rates increase the purchase price for various categories, including a floor of GEL 0.5 per kilogram for grapes with sugar content below 16 percent.
Mekhuzla stated that the government will provide compensation to growers who had already sold their harvest under the previous, lower price points. Following the announcement, farmers ended their demonstrations and resumed deliveries to purchasing facilities.
Article and image source: civil.ge
