The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Levan Davitashvili, congratulated the members of the International Olive Council (IOC) on World Olive Day.
As the Minister noted, Georgia has great potential for olive production. Establishing olive plantations will play a significant role in the country's economic stimulation and in employing the local population.
"The olive is a crop with very great potential in the country. We are actively supporting the development of the fruit-growing sector. Within the framework of the 'Plant the Future' program, we have already established more than 15,000 [hectares] of intensive orchards, including olive plantations among them. We plan to create an olive nursery in Georgia in order to accelerate the establishment of olive plantations and to use locally produced olive saplings. In addition, quality control of the products already produced will take place in a state laboratory. The state is ready to support the creation of additional enterprises through co-financing," noted Levan Davitashvili.
As part of the event, participants discussed the challenges and opportunities of the olive sector; they addressed issues related to financial, economic, technological, and environmental conditions. World Olive Day was held in Georgia within the framework of the 114th session of the International Olive Council and the 57th meeting of the Advisory Council.
The events were held with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, under the aegis of UNESCO, and on the initiative of the International Olive Council. Georgia joined the International Olive Council in 2019 and became the council's chairing country in 2020.
The information is released by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
