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The Georgian government will purchase grapes as a result of heavy hail and wind in the Georgian wine region of Kakheti, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated today.

“The state will pay 80 tetri for 1 kg of white grapes and 1 GEL for red – Saperavi (grape variety),” said Garibashvili.

In addition, the government will pay 3,000 GEL per ha of vineyard to a farmer whose grapes have been completely destroyed.

Heavy hail and wind hit the Kvareli, Telavi, Gurjaani and Lagodekhi municipalities in Kakheti on August 26 damaging 4600 ha of vineyards.

In about 15 villages of Kakheti nearly 80-100 per cent of the vineyards have been destroyed.

“The state at its own expense will help our people, to make this process as easy as possible,” Garibashvili stated.