May 3, 2011

Georgia to plant US hybrid corn

Georgian Agriculture Ministry had expected that hybrid corn, purchased from US company Pioneer, would be sown on the area of 30,000 hectares, but only 10,000 hectares are cultivated so far.

Georgian farmers declare that the hybrid corn is inedible and can be used only as forage. Farmers were forced to plant the corn through pressure of law enforcement officers, mostly in Kakheti region.

Giorgi Gachechiladze, chairman of "Georgian Green Party" said, farmers are forced to take credits from banks in order to purchase seed stock, with the banks providing land site or a house as a banking guarantee. However, no one can guarantee good harvest to the farmers, he said.

Professor Tamaz Kunchulia said that hybrid corn might be more expensive for farmers, as it requires more fertilisers and examination of soil.

Hybrid varieties of corn were raised in Georgia in 1980s, which had good results then.