Agriculture Minister, UNDP Rep discuss environmental reforms, future cooperation
The Georgian official emphasised the importance of the UNDP’s support in terms of funding and knowledge-sharing in the implementation of various projects, including those for the improvement of the economic circumstances of the rural population and support of agriculture programmes. Photo: Georgian Agriculture Ministry
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Environmental reforms in Georgia, projects implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the country and future cooperation avenues were discussed by Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister, and Nick Beresford, the UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia, on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Shamugia and Beresford talked about the new Forest Code of the country, stipulated by the Association Agreement signed in 2014 between Georgia and the European Union, and the Environmental Liability Law, approved by the country's legislative body in March last year.
Beresford said the UNDP, in cooperation with Georgia’s National Forestry Agency, would implement a new project in the country - Support to Sustainable and Climate-Sensitive Forest management Practices in Georgia - to be funded by the Japanese Government, the Agriculture Ministry announced.
The project of Sustainable Rural Development in Georgia, under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development, was also discussed at the meeting. The programme aims at reducing rural poverty and promoting rural development in the country, along with the creation of economic and social opportunities for people living in remote areas.
The Georgian official emphasised the importance of the UNDP’s support in terms of funding and knowledge-sharing in the implementation of various projects, including those for the improvement of the economic circumstances of the rural population and support of agriculture programmes.
The UNDP and the Georgian Government are implementing a seven-year project, entitled Climate Change Adaptation Programme, to reduce risks of natural disasters caused by climate change. The programme has been implemented since 2019, with funds allocated by the Green Climate Fund, as well as Swedish and Swiss Governments.
Georgia’s wine export growth rate reached more than 40 percent in January-February 2022, the Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia said on Monday, adding the figure reflected the “purposeful policy” of the Georgian Government.
Georgian farmers will be able to get low-interest loans for production of annual crops, following latest changes to the preferential agro-credit state programme, Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia announced on Monday.
Challenges in Georgia’s winemaking sector and diversification of international markets for promoting sales of wine from the country were in the focus of a meeting between Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister, Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, and Peter Wiebler, the Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Georgia mission, on Thursday.
Reforms in the forestry sector, air and water resources, waste management and trade relations were the topics covered at a meeting between Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister and Carl Hartzell, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday.
Improving productivity and competitiveness of agricultural farms in Georgia, and providing assistance to micro-, small-, and medium-sized agriculture and food production enterprises is the subject of an agreement signed between Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister, and Raimund Jehle, the Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Friday.
Representatives of the European Union and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation visited the Dmanisi Cattle Breeding Station in southeastern Georgia to observe the facility that received a grant of 462,000 GEL ($15,049/€13,848) to upgrade its machinery and equipment, EU in Georgia said on Friday.
Japan has allocated over $920,000 to the United Nations Development Programme in Georgia for supporting the country’s “sustainable and climate-friendly” forest management, the UNDP’s Georgian office announced on Thursday.
The ongoing and future cooperation between the Georgian Parliament and the United Nations Development Programme was discussed on Friday between the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Nick Beresford, the UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.