Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture Davit Songulashvili has met with peach and nectarine producers and exporters to discuss current trends and development prospects in the sector.

The Minister emphasised that such meetings are vital for the timely identification of industry challenges and effective responses.

“Ongoing communication between the state and the private sector lays the groundwork for more effective and targeted decision-making. The direct meeting format allows us to pinpoint existing challenges precisely and plan the appropriate measures. The Ministry intends to establish sectoral advisory councils. I will attend their sessions personally once a quarter, while Deputy Ministers will convene monthly meetings. This format will give us the ability to plan both reforms and solutions to existing challenges consistently and systematically across each sector,” said Songulashvili.

The meeting focused on the need to improve product quality, introduce modern agricultural technologies, and increase yields. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of market diversification and the need to develop new export destinations.

“Our primary task is to improve product quality, introduce modern standards, develop packaging and sorting, and build a recognisable brand. It is vital that Georgian produce is identifiable and competitive on international markets, which will ultimately drive up both prices and export volumes,” said exporter Aleksandre Gvarishvili.

The Ministry noted that, in support of the sector’s development, more than 300 hectares of new peach orchards have already received co-financing under the Rural Development Agency’s Plant the Future programme, totalling 1.6 million lari. In 2025, peach and nectarine exports reached 25,800 tonnes, a 17% year-on-year increase, with total export value rising to USD 32 million from USD 25 million in 2024, reflecting a 28% growth.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Ministers Lasha Dolidze and Lasha Avaliani, alongside senior officials from the relevant agencies and departments.