Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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The International Potato Center (CIP) organized a conference for discussing implemented projects’ outcomes and existing challenges

Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr Solomon Pavliashvili attended a conference organized by the International Potato Center (CIP), which aimed at enabling state and donor organization to discuss implemented projects’ outcomes and incumbent challenges in the respective field. 

“Quality and harvest of the potatoes in Georgia requires significant improvements. The Ministry is actively engaged into facilitating enhancement of the industry. Last year, we exported 30 tonnes of potatoes, which clearly demonstrated that we have a huge capacity in this regard. Support of the International Potato Center and the contemporary technologies will open up new possibilities for our farmers to produce highly competitive production and export the latter” – Deputy Minister Solomon Pavliashvili stated. 

Georgia’s potato industry spans across nearly 25,000 hectares, while each of the hectares harvests around 12 tonnes, which is less than those in the European countries. The core problem of an industry is low quality seedlings of potatoes used for cultivation purposes. 
The Scientific-Research Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia has been cooperating with the International Potato Center since 2016. The Center assists the Ministry in cultivating elite species and innovative methods, which will complement increase of food safety and consistent grow of farmers’ income. Within the 5 years of the project, we have already cultivated three new types – Meskhetian, Meskhetian Red and Javakhetian, which have also been adapted to an environment and have a resistance to deceases; these types also demonstrate high income. Registration of 3 types is underway.