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Otar Shamugia delivered a speech at the Ministerial in Baku
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. Otar Shamugia participated in the Ministerial Meeting " Vision for the Future - Transition to Digital Agriculture" in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku.
The Ministerial has been organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The main message at the Ministerial is the introduction of digital technologies in the agricultural area and standardization, which will simplify and make transparent the relationship with farmers, and will ensure transparency and access to agricultural services.
We see the vital importance of digital technologies, which has been proven once again during pandemics and in case of emergencies. At the Ministerial Roundtable Meeting, Mr. Shamugia highlighted measures taken to digitalize Georgia's agricultural sector. The Ministerial was attended by Ministers from 10 countries and the Directors-General of international organizations.
"We have already taken a number of important steps towards the digitalization of agriculture. The electronic system is operated for farmers and entrepreneurs to exchange information, the harvest (grapes) is registered on the basis of a unified electronic program, certificates and permits through electronic systems are issued; Digital platforms have been developed to improve extension services;
Inventory of windbreaks is being underway to ensure sustainable land management, a unified database of land resources is being created, and pastures are being registered and placed on a digital map by the National Agency of Public Registry.
We are actively discussing measures, such as using satellite imagery and aerial photography technology for mapping crops, identification of water scarcity in agricultural crops, identification of uncultivated lands, etc.
"We are open to cooperation with international partners and ready to share the best practices," Mr. Shamugia stated.
Within the framework of the Ministerial, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia met with the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Inam Karimov, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Mukhtar Babaev, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Moldova Mr. Viorel Gherciu, Directo General of OIV, Mr. Pau Roca Blasco, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Mr. Qu Dongyu.
The meetings were attended by the First Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture Mr. George Khanishvili and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Zurab Pataradze.