Grape purchase prices changed in Kakheti following viticulturists’ protest

Price changes and viticulturists' protest

For two days, viticulturists in Kakheti held protest rallies, including blocking roads, to protest the conditions for grape delivery and low purchase prices. According to the viticulturists, the existing rates could not cover the costs of vineyard maintenance, pesticides, labor, and transportation. In addition, farmers protested the methodology for measuring sugar content, which, according to them, often led to the artificial devaluation of grapes. Civil.ge+4

Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency, announced at a briefing held in Gurjaani that prices had been changed as a result of consultations with the government and Minister of Agriculture Davit Songhulashvili. Under the new scheme, the price of grapes with up to 16% sugar content increased from 30 tetri to 50 tetri, while the price of hybrid grapes was set at 30 tetri. 1TV+6

New rates and harvest forecast

According to the newly established prices, high-quality Saperavi (from 20 degrees and above) will cost 1.50 GEL, while Rkatsiteli and other varieties (from 19 degrees and above) will cost 1.30 GEL. In the case of low-quality grapes, Saperavi from 16 to 20 degrees will be 1 GEL, while Rkatsiteli and other varieties from 16 to 19 degrees will be 90 tetri. 1TV+6

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a grape harvest of more than 320 thousand tons is expected in Georgia this year, which will be a record figure in the history of independent Georgia. According to Minister Davit Songhulashvili, heavy rainfall created climatic challenges, which is why the grapes are struggling to reach sugar content levels. Civil.ge+3

End of protest

According to various sources, after the price changes, some of the viticulturists stopped protesting and began delivering grapes. However, information was circulated that some of the participants in the rally remained dissatisfied with the government's new terms. Giorgi Diasamidze, head of the Labor trade union, states that the viticulturists are satisfied with the terms offered at this stage, although this amount does not fully balance the labor they have expended. Netgazeti+4