The first Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA), Mr Giorgi Khanishvili and Head of the Biological Threat Reduction Program at the U.S Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Ada Baset signed an official agreement to provide the MEPA with an Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS).  An Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS) is a unified database of deceases and serves as an effective tool for exchanging information between the bodies that are part to the epid-oversight integrated national systems. The respective tool is also utilized for a timely notification/reporting, monitoring and analyses. In frames of the Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP), an Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS) has been applied to the National Food Agency and the State Laboratory of Agriculture of Georgia since 2004. The system has been gradually applied at each and every regional unit of organizations, which are engaged into laboratories and epidemiological oversight. The first Deputy Minister Khanishvili thanked Head of the Deputy Head of the Biological Threat Reduction Program at the U.S Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Ms Margo Shields for providing meaningful assistance to Georgia with regard to the Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP) and stated that the respective program has been a milestone for ensuring significant progress for bio-security in the country. The first Deputy Minister Khanishvili also stressed out that the U.S Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has been integral into equipping the State Laboratory of Agricuture for covid detection and protection capabilities. “We highly appreciate your assistance and we would like to express our gratitude for it. We have been empowered with a knowledge and expertise, which will assist us to fulfill responsibilities for managing an Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System. We have harvested goods of a join cooperation with a hope to deepen our cooperation in the future” – Deputy Minister Khanishvili stated. “I am delighted to thank each one of you for officially signing an agreement, which embraces success of the National Food Agency and the State Laboratory of Agriculture under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia in terms on successful fulfillment of bio-security enhancement. The respective success has emphasized importance of our devoted partner” – Ms Shields stated.

A young farmer, Mr Zurab Masurashvili has made a 2,5 million GEL investment for opening up a livestock farm in the Dedoplistskaro municipality, which is equipped with modern appliances; from the respective amount – 1,5 million GEL has been deployed from the State programming, as a preferential agro-credit. The farm employs 10 local and produces 4 tonnes of milk daily. The project is realized at a local market. Opening of the farm was attended by the first Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA), Mr Giorgi Khanishvili, State Trustee of the Kakheti Region, Mr Irakli Shioshvili, Head of the the Farmers’ Association, Ms Nino Zambakhidze, as well as representatives of the MEPA’s agencies. “The livestock industry is a rapidly developing area in Georgia, which is highly influenced by the contributions made by the donor organizations. A new farm with modern technologies established in Dedoplistskaro is a success of a young farmer, but also for the whole country, as it demonstrates that farmer industries and livestock area is developing. A successful farm employs dozens of farmers and creates a model of success” – Deputy Minister Giorgi Khanishvili stated. 

Hazelnut farmers have embraced a rich and high-quality of harvest. The first Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA), Mr Giorgi Khanishvili and Head of the National Food Agency, Mr Zurab Chekurashvili attended a working meeting at the Tsalenjikha municipality with the agro-cunsultants employed in the “Hazelnut Saving Program”. Parties to the meeting scrutinized incumbent challenges in the hazelnut industry.  “The meeting was crucial for enabling attendees to embrace progress, but also discuss possibilities for implementing modern technologies, as well as challenges which are faced by the farmers. These matters shall be addressed in a comprehensive manner and the respective actions will be set forth in the new programs of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia” – Deputy Minister Khanishvili stated.  The Hazelnut Producers’ Association stated that harvest is improving annually, which has been determined through cooperation between private sector and farmers, as well as deploying consistent policy for enhancing the field. It is crucial to continue actions against the armored stinkbug and ensure treatments set forth within the agro-scheme. The “Hazelnut Saving Program” has been enacted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia in 2019, together with the Hazelnut Producers’ Association, which entails comprehensive actions. In frames of the program, the State has provided the Association with treatment materials, which has also hosted consultation meetings for the farmers and in cooperation with the respective specialists. 

In her speech, Ms Nino Tandilashvili stressed out the projects undertaken by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia as part of the environmental responsibility, as well as actions for separated waste collection and processing waste. “Discussing green business initiatives is crucial for the Ministry as well ensuring more communication; any new obligation or standard requires investments from the private sector. In the respective direction, the Ministry has plans, which will accelerate their operation. The similar forums enjoy meaningful contribution from the State agencies and business sector and it is crucial to continue organizing them in order to identity environmental initiatives and ensure the State support” – Deputy Minister Tandilashvili stated.  Attendees to the Forum scrutinized matters related to green economy and enhancement of green businesses, as well as fostering assistance to small and medium enterprises.  MP Maia Bitadze, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, Director of Environmental Issues at the “RMG”, Mr Sandro Devidze and Environmental Protection Manager of “Toyota Caucasus”, Ms Salome Mshvildadze attended the Forum.

During the period of May 1 – August 9, Georgia has exported 25,9 tonnes of peach and nectarines, which has exceeded 7,6 tonnes (41%) and 7, 9 million USD (51%) in comparison to the previous year.Export has been carried out to the Russian Federation (16,915 tonnes), Armenia (7,688 tonnes), Azerbaijan (269 tonnes), Ukraine (671 tonnes), Belarus (119 tonnes), Kazakhstan (95 tonnes), Moldova (116 tonnes) and Slovenia (59 tonnes).

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr Levan Davitashvili scrutinized matters related to vintage together with the representatives of the National Wine Agency and the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency. “We are undertaking maximal efforts to ensure successful vintage, enabling farmers to accommodate their harvest and also foster storage-processing efforts at the enterprises. We have already undertaken specific steps by the State through initiating subsidizing efforts, which soften the pandemic turmoil and safeguard farmers, as well as the quality of wine producers; we shall maintain stable development dynamics of the area” – Minister Davitashvili stated.  The Government of Georgia has decided to provide subsidizing to the company, which purchases and processes at least 100 tonnes of “Rkatsiteli” or “Kakheti Mtsvane” in Kakheti; the respective company shall pay at least 0,9 GEL to the farmer per 1 kg of grapes, while the State will provide 0,35 GEL subsidizing to the company per kg. In the course of the meeting, attendees stressed out that vintage 2021 shall be organized at an organized manner, thus, similarly to the previous years – 24/7 coordination unit will operate, which will be located in Telavi. At this stage, technical arrangements of the coordination unit are underway. In 2021, Georgia has projected a record amount of 300, 000 tonnes of grape vintage.

The Minister of Environmetal Protection and Agriculture of Georgia has prohibited hunting on migratory birds at the Samukhi Valley of the Dedoplistskaro municipality in order not to disrupt reintroduction efforts of Gazelle, which has been covered under the Red List.Based on a monthly monitoring results – hunting on migratory birds on the Samukhi Valley pose tremendous difficulties to the process of recovering the Gazzelle population project. Gunshots scare Gazelles and they change their patterns through escaping to pushes and trying to remain safe, thus making it easier for wolfs to hunt them.  Since 2013, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and their Caucasus Office has joined efforts with the LEPL Agency of Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, including though meaningful engagement of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan and Government of Georgia have been succeeding in the project of recovering Gazelle population. The Department of Environmental Supervision under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia will ensure oversight. Please, access the following link: mepa.gov.ge