Gov’t vows to purchase hail-damaged grapes

 The Georgian government has promised farmers of eastern Kakheti region that it will pay 80 tetris for 1kg of grapes heavily damaged by recent hail. 

Hail and winds in nearly 15 villages of  Kakheti region damaged 4,600 ha of vineyards on August 26. 

In previous years the opposition strongly criticized the government for subsidizing grapes and other agricultural products, stating that it was an additional burden for the state budget.