Grape growers in Georgia demanded an increase in payments for the harvest.

Grape growers in Kakheti held a protest due to low purchase prices for their products. The protesters stated they faced problems in selling their harvest and demanded the government increase the purchase price of grapes.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", in 2024, grape growers from three villages in Kakheti blocked the highway, demanding that enterprises accept their grapes at higher prices. The protest was organized by farmers from three villages in Kakheti - Samtatskuro, Pirosmani, and Sabatlo (Dedoplistskaro municipality).

On September 21, grape growers gathered near one of the enterprises in the village of Akhalsopeli. They stated that they do not intend to disperse, as the current purchase price is too low and does not even cover the costs of growing and harvesting, reported the publication Kakhetis Khma.

Producers stated that they cannot deliver the harvested crop. According to them, preliminary tests showed that the sugar content in the grapes is above the established threshold, which implies a high purchase price for the product. However, after checking at the factories, they were told that the sugar content is insufficient and the grapes can only be accepted at a low price.

The protest began in the morning in the village of Shildi in the Kvareli district, where farmers protested against low prices for the harvest. A large number of police were mobilized on site, and people attempted to block the road.

In the village of Chikaani in the Kvareli district, a queue about four kilometers long formed near the grape reception plant. A local resident contacted the publication. According to him, the reception of grapes at the plant unexpectedly stopped, after which the enterprise closed. According to his information, the plant's employees do not explain why the reception of grapes has been halted.

The protesters demanded to change the existing rules, according to which grapes with a sugar content below 17% are accepted at 30 tetri per kilogram. Grape growers fear that due to the current situation, part of the harvest may be lost.

Local residents called on the authorities to take action: they emphasize that they voted for the "Georgian Dream" and now demand that it convene an extraordinary government meeting and revise the resolution that established the low purchase price for grapes with low sugar content, reports the television company Pirveli.

"Do you think that 30 tetri (about 11 cents) is acceptable? The government that adopted this resolution was elected by these people, and these people demand an emergency government meeting and changes to this resolution," local residents told the head of the Wine Agency in Georgia who arrived at the scene.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in November 2023, grape growers in Kakheti held a protest, demanding payment for the delivered products. According to them, the authorities have not been able to pay them for two months.