Harvesting the yield is in an active mode in Shida Kartli region. The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia has visited the village of Shindisi, Gori municipality together with the State Trustee of the Shida Kartli region, Mr Valerian Mchedlidze. The Minister and the State Trustee observed yield harvest (also known as “Alooba” in Georgia) by the company “Silk Water Group”. “Alooba is in an active mode. Harvesting actions simultaneously span across Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions, which does cause certain challenges in terms of collection and storage efforts. Frankly speaking, the most challenging period has already been passed and the vast majority of the harvest has been accommodated. This year, yield is of an outstanding quality, in terms of qualitative as well as quantitative terms. The respective outcome has resulted from numerous systemic changes and decisions. We shall also stress out capacity building of our farmers and shaping their experience, which assist them in deploying modern approaches, that boost fertility and protection of the soil; we can produce high-quality wheat and barley. Therefore, we will intensify our efforts targeting enhancement of crop industry, which will be translated into a simplified access to seeds and mechanization, as well as certification, knowledge among the farmers, modern technologies and the best practices; we will proceed with making efforts toward quality control, which will be an important step toward protection of farmers’ interests and fair competitiveness” – Minister Davitashvili stated. The Black Water Group is a producer of more than 120 hectares of Georgian variety of “Lomtagora” wheat, as well as 50 hectares of barley and 100 hectares of burclover; the company also ensures crop rotation as an effective effort for soil fertility. Nowadays, crop cultures are being collected without an impediments and through agricultural schedule; nationwide, LTD  ,,Agricultural Logistics and Services Company" has mobilized around 95 combines, which have made it possible to already collect/accommodate around 14, 000 hectares of space in Shida Kartli, Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions. In the village of Shindisi, harvest collection efforts were attended by the first Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr Giorgi Khanishvili and Director of the Agricultural Development Agency, Mr Ilia Tamarashvili.

Today, at the session of the Government of Georgia, Prime Minister of Georgia, Mr Irakli Gharibashvili appointed Mr Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and Ms Tea Tsulukiani, Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport as the Vice-Prime Ministers of Georgia.There are three Vice-Prime Ministers in the cabinet of Ministers; the respective position is also held by Mr Davit Zalkaliani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr Levan Davitashvili delivered opening remarks at the special occasion dedicated to the Day of Georgian Milk. Minister Davitashvili expressed his gratitude to the donor organizations for complementing creation of the “Georgian Milk” trade mark, which will enable customers to differentiate between raw and processed milks. “The milk sector plays a crucial role in the agriculture. In fact, the Ministry-elaborated technical regulations on milk quality have tremendously transformed trust matters toward milk products. The respective regulation has already been translated into safe production. Attendees of the Day of Georgian Milk has united medium and small producers under the trade mark; there are thousands of farmers that are standing by these farmers. Therefore, it is crucial to assist farmers and unions; moreover, we shall facilitate trade marks, which also serves as a core aspect of the Ministry’s policy” – Minister Davitashvili stated. “In frames of the occasion, several successful producers of milk processing enterprises serve as a solid proof for a successful state policy, which is deployed by the Ministry. Currently, production derived from raw milk will be fostered for export, as well as replacing import” – MP Nino Tsilosani, Chairperson of the Agrarian Issues Committee of the Parliament stated.The event also enjoyed presence of MP Khatia Tsilosani, the first Deputy Chairperson of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee of the Parliament. MP Tsilosani joined attendees of the occasion in commemorating the Day of the Georgian Milk.The occasion was attended by more than 20 attendees which are milk products producers and was organized by the “Business Institute of Georgia”. The respective organization also serves as an organization authorized to assign marks for Georgian milk. Beyond promoting Georgian milk products – the occasion aims at fostering cooperation between representatives of milk products’ producers, restaurants, cafes, hotels and trade establishments that own the HACCP. 

Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr Levan Davitashvili visited the new freezer enterprises in the village of Kvarkhiti of the Gori municipality. “Our policies are not fragmental but quite consistent and systemic. On the third year of the “Plant the Future” program, we have launched co-funding of the storage and freezer enterprises. Throughout these years, several enterprises have been launched through co-funding; in 2021, we have accepted more applications and statements of interest, than before. It will be an increasing progress; the Ministry-supported intensive gardens make up nearly 14-15 thousand hectares and require an adequate storage-processing infrastructure. The latter inquires that there is a need for hundreds of freezer enterprises, similar to the “Tiriphomi Fruit”. A ten-year plan of the Government deploys actions, which will complement actions in a systematic manner and result into co-funding of supply chain at large; as a result, Georgian production will be of high quality and competitive” – Minister Davitashvili stated. Freezer enterprise of the company “Tiriphomi Fruit” has been equipped with Italian and German modern technologies and through the state funding. The freezer can accommodate 1000 tonnes of fruit and has been awarded with 600, 000 GEL via storage enterprise co-funding program, while the preferential credit amounts into 1,5 million GEL. Moreover, in frames of the technical assistance program, food safety management system in freezer enterprises ISO 22 000 will be adopted.In frames of the Rural Development Agency, 50 freezer and storage enterprises will be supported, nationwide; A total funding has exceeded 23, 8 million GEL. 

The decree on the extensive aqua-culture regulatory rules and terms has been elaborated upon the initiative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and aims at ensuring legislative regulation of the respective matter. “Today, within the session of the Government of Georgia, we have adopted two regulations of high importance, which will complement enhancement of aqua-culture in Georgia. It is a rule for issuing permission on extensive aqua-culture rules and a technical regulation in general. The latter initiative and action will enable investors and incumbent industries to enjoy sustainable enhancement of the respective area. We have stressed out in our 10-year plan that Georgia will triple operation and will harvest more than 20 000 tonnes of aqua-culture. It is a detailed assessment, which will be possible through effective arrangements in ponds, as well as mariculture locations” – Minister Davitashvili stated. Extensive aqua-culture aims at ensuring fish populations at natural ponds (lake, river, swamp water) and artificial reservoirs (reservoirs, several streams and other ponds, except for aqua-culture constructions) through spawn, larva and upon providing natural food. Fish at the respective pond will be comprehensively depicted for complementing further increase in the future. The decree on the extensive aqua-culture regulatory rules and terms aims at determining participation rules among the administrative bodies, which shall be part to the process of issuing permits. The decree also sets permission terms for the latter bodies. An extensive permission will be issued for not more than 20 years. As set forth by the Law of Georgia on Licenses and Permits, the respective permission will be issued by the National Environmental Agency and upon inter-agency council’s recommendation. The decree will also determine rules for issuing permission for extensive aqua-culture, which will further facilitate the respective field.