#CitrusExport #Agriculture #BorderTransportation #CollaborativeEfforts #Abkhazia-RussiaRelations #Mandarins #SeasonalHarvest #QualityStandards #ProcessingFacilities #AgriculturalInnovation
The State Customs Committee of Abkhazia, led by Chairman Otar Khetsia, is considering the addition of dedicated lanes for heavy-duty vehicles transporting citrus fruits across the border with Russia. As the export season for autumn fruits, such as mandarins, lemons, feijoa, and persimmons, is in full swing, the proposal aims to address potential congestion issues during the peak mandarin harvest.
Khetsia highlighted the importance of proactive measures to ensure the efficient flow of citrus exports. In anticipation of the citrus season, the State Customs Committee routinely conducts meetings with participants in foreign economic activities engaged in citrus exports. These discussions help identify potential challenges, which are then presented at joint meetings with Russian counterparts from the Federal Customs Service (FTS). This year’s meeting yielded positive results, prompting the deployment of additional inspectors to the Adler checkpoint and the opening of extra windows to expedite the inspection process.
In the current season, Abkhazia has exported 4.6 thousand tons of mandarins to Russia since late September, representing a 1.5 thousand-ton increase compared to the same period last year. Khetsia emphasized that the main harvest is just beginning, and the total volume of mandarin exports is expected to reach 30 thousand tons, according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s forecast. Notably, 95% of the exports are destined for Russia, with the remaining 5% allocated to the domestic market.
Minister of Agriculture Beslan Djopua revealed that 80% of mandarins are harvested from local residents’ private plots, while only 20% come from three state-owned enterprises located in the Gulrypsh, Tkvarcheli, and Gali districts. The minister emphasized that only high-quality mandarins meet export standards, with substandard produce primarily being disposed of due to the lack of processing facilities in the republic. Djopua expressed hope for the resolution of this issue with the planned opening of a processing plant in the Adzyubzha village of the Ochamchira district, designed not only for mandarin processing but also for other fruits and the production of animal and fish feed.
The proactive measures taken by Abkhazian authorities, such as potential additional lanes at the border and collaborative efforts with Russian counterparts, showcase a commitment to streamlining the citrus export process. As the season progresses, these initiatives aim to ensure a smooth flow of high-quality mandarins to Russia, contributing to the growth of Abkhazia’s agricultural sector.
