Lado Bitchashvili, Shida Kartli
A month ago, the frost destroyed the fruit-garden of Natela Makashvili, resident of Variani village in Gori municipality and the family thought they will get harvest at least from vegetable garden. However, several days ago the hail destroyed the vegetable too.
“The hail destroyed everything. The only income for my family is agriculture but this year we will have to buy everything instead selling our own fruit and vegetable. We request reimbursement of the loss from the government but nobody has paid attention to us so far,” Natela Makashvili said.
Residents of other villages in Gori municipality also complain about the frost and hail-destroyed fruit and vegetable gardens. Guliver Aduashvili said as they are unemployed it was their only income.
“We hoped for the harvest but now we lost everything; in addition to that, we have credits in the bank and 80% of village population is in the same situation. We urge the government for help but there is no hope,” Guliver Aduashvili said.
Gori municipality governor David Oniashvili said they are calculating the loss but only insured harvest will be compensated by the insurance companies.
Deputy of Variani community in the Gori municipality council said the insurance system is not effective. Vakhtang Berkatsashvili said absolute majority of the villagers do not have insured their plots.
“It is not easy case. The insurance companies have their criteria to insure the plots. For example, they insure the fruit-gardens only after the fruit is already detected. However, the harvest was destroyed by frost in Variani community and only vegetables had survived, which was finally destroyed by the hail,” Berkatsashvili said.
Several villages were hailed in Gori municipality on May 20.