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

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The Project for restoring and spreading unique Meskhetian vine and endemic species and varieties of Georgian wheat will be launched in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region

The Director of the Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus (REC), Mrs. Sofiko Akhobadze presented the project "Sustainable management of agricultural biodiversity in vulnerable ecosystems and villages of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region" (2022-2026) at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

As stated by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, the aforementioned project aims to promote the sustainable management of agrobiodiversity, he also noted, that the active involvement of international partners and donor organizations will play a crucial role in the implementation of the project.

"Our country has gained international recognition, as a region peculiar by its high biodiversity. Moreover, agrobiodiversity occupies a prominent place in this unique biodiversity. We should mention, that one of the main tasks of the Agricultural and Rural Development Strategy is the conservation and maintenance of biodiversity, and the implementation of the respective project serves this purpose.

The Samtskhe-Javakheti region is rich in rare, local varieties of grapes and wheat. The aforementioned project will contribute to the restoration and spread of these varieties among farmers.

The project enables small and medium-scale farmers to use these varieties in production, which in itself will contribute to the diversification of vines and wheat production. At the same time, farmers' incomes will increase and more people will be employed in the rural areas", Mr. Otar Shamugia said.




According to the Minister, a collection of unique and rare varieties of Georgian vines has been created in the Jighaura Research Base, and the search and restoration of the aforementioned species have carried on for a long time.

Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili has given the Jighaura Nursery to the scientific-research center for free.
"The project involves the restoration of at least 26 types of Meskhetsian grape varieties as well as the establishment of a nursery, which will promote the spread of these varieties and the promotion of wine production. Within the project, 2 ‘’Châteaux’’ will be established, which will be based on the concept of gastronomic products produced from Meskhetsian vines and endemic varieties of Georgian wheat.
5000 farmers have been identified, out of which 2400 are female farmers. We hope that the economic and environmental benefits are related to the restoration of wine produced from Georgian and Meskhetsian vines in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region", said Mrs. Sofiko Akhobadze.
The project aims to promote the sustainable use and protection of agrobiodiversity in the agricultural sector of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, to improve the state policy and the existing legal framework, and promote the introduction of the local vine and wheat varieties in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and to increase incomes at the local level.

The implementation of the project will contribute to the diversification of grape, wine, and wheat production in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, including the increase of incomes of small and medium-sized farmers and entrepreneurs, and the creation of new jobs in the region.


Furthermore, the guidance documents on sustainable management of agrobiodiversity will be elaborated, the planting/seed material of local vine and wheat varieties will be delivered to farms, appropriate agricultural and technical assistance will be provided to farmers under the framework of the project also, training and field training programs will be offered to farmers to strengthening their skills and capabilities.
The project will be jointly implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) - by the Regional Environmental Center of the Caucasus (REC Caucasus) - with the regional administration of Samtskhe-Javakheti, municipal bodies, in close cooperation with the National Wine Agency, the Agricultural Scientific Research Center and the Rural Development Agency.

The Deputies of the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Mr. Yuri Nozadze and Mrs. Nino Tandilashvili, Mr. Imamura Akira, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Georgia, representatives of the relevant agencies within the system of the Ministry and local farmers attended the meeting.