Gov’t to ban export of wheat, barley for one year - Agriculture Minister

The Georgian Government has decided to ban the export of wheat and barley from the country over the next year starting on July 4, Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister, said on Tuesday.

In his comments, Shamugia stressed the importance of making locally produced wheat and barley available on the domestic market due to the supply complications in the Black Sea region caused by the war in Ukraine. 

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili signed a government decree earlier today which bans the export of the products until July 1, 2023. The document substantiates the decision with the “food security problems” created throughout the world over the recent months.

Shamugia also said even though Georgia was “entirely dependent” on imports of wheat, and could not facilitate export due to small domestic production, the “current circumstances” meant there was a “risk” of attempts of exporting the product.

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He noted his Ministry had held meetings with local producers of wheat and barley, pointing out the local market would “fully absorb” the harvest produced in the country due to the existing demand.

Georgia annually imports 500 tonnes of wheat, while locally produced barley is exported to Iraq and Iran, the Agriculture Ministry said, adding 60,000 tonnes of barley was expected to be harvested in the country this year. Over 2,500 tonnes of the product have already been exported.