90% of the citrus harvest has been destroyed in Adzharia. Local
farmers say that most of the plants were damaged by the 'silver flea'
pest, Business Georgia reports.
Farmers say that they cannot fight the pest due to a lack of
pesticides. Last year the harvest was equal to an average of 10-12
tons of tangerines per farmer, this year - a maximum of 300 kilograms.
The farmers say that they lack markets for citrus fruit sales.
Tangerines are only exported to Ukraine, where custom fees were
raised.
The Agriculture Ministry of Adzharia denies the report. Deputy
Minister Donara Surmanidze blames the farmers for the poor harvest.
She says that 42,000 tons of tangerines have been collected, but the
figure is unofficial.
Surmanidze says that brochures will be published on pesticides. She
believes that farmers do not pay enough attention to their
plantations.
