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

Otar Shamugia and Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in Georgia signed the FAO Country Programming Framework

Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Mr. Otar Shamugia, together with Mr. Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in Georgia, signed the FAO Country Programming Framework.

The New Agreement aims to improve the productivity and competitiveness of agricultural farms in Georgia; FAO will support the small and medium-sized enterprises involved in the agriculture and food production system.
 
FAO will work with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture to implement the agricultural extension strategy. Under the Agreement, FAO will support the Ministry in introducing food safety standards and implementing traceability systems, that will help each consumer of agricultural products to reap the benefits of healthier food options. The respective Agreement considers the enhancement of export opportunities as well.

"We sincerely appreciate the successful cooperation between FAO and the Government of Georgia. I would like to express my gratitude to FAO for its continued support in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We are jointly implementing a number of important projects and I hope, that effective cooperation will continue in the future as well" - said Mr. Otar Shamugia.

The Minister noted, that the European Neighborhood Program for Rural and Agricultural Development, ENPARD will implement a large-scale project amounting to USD 10 million, funded by the European Union.
 
The respective project will provide additional assistance to Georgia in the introduction of food safety standards for better protection of consumers’ rights in the country and increasing the export potential of Georgian products to the EU member states.
 
‘’The expertise and experience, which FAO makes available through the Framework Agreement, will support the food systems transformation process in Georgia. As the adaptation to climate change in agriculture is a national priority, FAO is ready to assist the country in enhancing resilience, mitigation, and adaptation to climate change in the agri-food sector through rational and sustainable use of natural resources, reduction of land degradation, and adaptation of climate-smart agricultural practices’’ Mr. Raimund Jehle said.
 
At the end of the meeting, the Minister commented on Georgia's application for EU membership and stressed the importance of support from international organizations in fulfilling obligations taken under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.
 
The agreement, drawn up following consultations with the Ministries and Government Agencies, benefitted from discussion with key resource partners, including the EU, Austrian Development Agency, and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, as well as development partners, including other United Nations agencies. Representatives of the private sector, non-governmental, and civil society organizations also were consulted.
The meeting was attended by the First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Mr. George Khanishvili, Deputy Minister Nino Tandilashvili, and the FAO Assistant  Representative in Georgia Mr. Mamuka Meskhi.