Georgian farmers are not ready to benefit from Agreement with EU, experts say

In the opinion of some of the authors of the economic programme of the coalition "Georgian Dream" Demur Giorkhelidze and a co-chair of the NGO "Free Zone" Gela Vasadze, there are no grounds to expect a sharp rise in the Georgia's agricultural sector as a result of signing and ratifying the Agreement with the European Union (EU). Economic development is impossible without political reforms, the experts have stressed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 18 the Georgian Parliament ratified the Association Agreement with the EU. The resolution was signed by David Usupashvili, the head of Parliament.

According to Demur Giorkhelidze, Georgia is not yet ready to take full advantage from the Agreement. According to his story, Georgia will need at least 7-10 years to achieve the level of economy, enabling to reach a real impact of implementing the Agreement.

He noted that today Georgia "has nothing to offer Europe apart from traditional tomatoes, cucumbers and citrus crops."

Economic development is impossible without political reforms, Giorkhelidze has added.

Georgian farmers will not be able to capitalize in the European market in the near future, believes Gela Vasadze, a political analyst. According to his story, the national agriculture, which is suffering from land shortage, cannot develop in isolation from other economy sectors.

Restrictions on Georgian goods will be lifted on September 1, said Mikhail Djanelidze, the Deputy Economy Minister, on the eve of ratification of the Association Agreement with the EU.