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

An economic assessment of the current pasture situation in Georgia, regarding winter and village pastures management in Kakheti region was discussed at the meeting in hotel "Iota". The Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Giorgi Khanishvili attended the meeting.
The participants have been focused on the economic benefits of pasture management practices and losses caused by degradation of unique ecosystems as a result of excessive grazing. Within the frame of the meeting, the participants got acquainted with the international practise on sustainable, uniform  grazing and shared Turkey`s experience in this regard.
The Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Giorgi Khanishvili stated, that Georgian Government is ready to take steps to further improve the pasture management system in the country.
The participants delivered presentations, where they made a focus on three main directions, including, the Existing practice of grazing livestock to be further continued and have control on the number of cattle; Intensive rotational grazing to introduce; Annual rotational grazing system to establish, which will be implemented to conduct an economic assessment of current pasture management system and introduce sustainable management system of pastures in Kakheti region. 
About 40 representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and  Agriculture, Ministries of Economy and Sustainable Development, Regional Development and Infrastructure, as well as international and local non-governmental organizations, scientific circles and Sheep breeders association of Georgia attended the meeting.
The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, German Society for International Cooperation GIZ, Sector Projects " Economics of Land Degradationan" (ELD) and "Biodiversity Sustainable Management in the Caucasus" and the Regional Environmental Center of Caucasus (REC).