For scaling up DRR facilitation of Local Self Governments by the programme the meeting was held with the Governor of Kvemo Kartli - Ramin Ismailov. In 2012-2014 the programme facilitated creation of Municipal Working Groups on Animal Disease Control and Disaster Risk Reduction in Dmanisi, Tetritskaro and Tsalka municipalities as a mechanism for reducing livestock related disaster risks at municipal level. In the phase II the programme intends to scale up its facilitation regarding DRR by extending this model in three other municipalities of Kvemo Kartli. The purpose of the meeting was to engage the Governor’s office in this process by transforming it into a regional model.
“The Governor’s office now is responsible for imposing the veterinarian quarantines but we don’t have any mechanism to monitor how it is carried out by the local self-governments and the NFA. I think that we could adopt the proposed model and create an Animal disease Control and Disaster Risk Reduction Regional Board which will coordinate the Municipal DRR working groups,” – the Governor stated.
Also at the end of the meeting the Governor raised an issue regarding an increased incidence of rabies cases in Kvemo Kartli.
“Currently we have the problem in regard to frequent cases of rabies in Kvemo Kartli and we will be grateful, if you help us to overcome this problem by providing proper expertise of situation and recommendations,” – he said.
As a result of the meeting the sides agreed that they will continue cooperation by making concrete plan for setting up the Regional Model for disease & disaster notification, control and reporting, which will push in the process of preparation & planning and mitigation at local self-government’s level. Furthermore with facilitation of the programme the Governor’s office will contact the local self-governments in the region for ensuring that above mentioned working groups were established and work properly.
The first Women’s Business Forum was held on the 31st of January, in Batumi, Ajara, the event hosted by the Association of Businesswomen of Ajara (ABWA) of the Ajara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in partnership with the Women’s Rooms municipal service. For the first time in Ajara, 140 representatives of local, regional and central government and private sector have gathered to share their experience and look for business growth opportunities.
For more information on the event's impression here .
The dream of many pop brands is to ‘make it in America’. Tsalka producer Tsezari Cheese Company, has started to do just that. Sun Breath Corps a Georgian distribution company based in New York contacted Tsezari through contacts related to the programme to export the cheese. Beginning in June1,200 kgs of Smoked Sulguni has so far been exported to New York, US. Tsezari who is HACCP certified and has been a main supplier of Sulguni cheese to the Carrefour chain in Georgia for over two years, can guarantee quality and a regular supply which is vital for successful export.
Batumi Boulevard is still buzzing from this summer’s sweetest festival, Honey Festival 2016. Organized for the second time by the Ajara Beekeepers Business Association on 13th of August. Last year’s debut festival was so impressive that this year’s festival had the support of governmental bodies Agroservice Center and the Cultural Heritage Preservation Agency of Ajara, who wanted to contribute to the festival and promote local honey production. Thus the festival was larger in scale this time, with activities taking place over two days, starting in Batumi Boulevard and closing in Gonio Fortress on 16th of August.
Informational leaflets on Animal Identification-Registration were distributed to the farmers of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli and Ajara regions by NFA representatives. These leaflets will serve to increase awareness of the compulsory EU regulation for preventing animal diseases, ensuring the health of animals and traceability that contributes to safe selling of meat, protecting consumers` rights and Georgia’s image as a country of high export potential. The NFA has also been providing vaccination for Foot and Mouth and blood tests for Brucellosis on the site. According to the latest data, 1 939 674 livestock and 140 466 small ruminants have been identified, and in total 994 058 animals have been registered.
The promotion of Ajara as a world class ecological hotspot and eco-tourism destination is soon set for a massive boost. Filming on the ALCP facilitated Eco Films production ‘Jara’, a 52 minutes, a half-wildlife, half-human story observational documentary about mountains of one specific region of Republic of Georgia – Ajara, is nearly complete and the production to bring together the material is now ongoing. The film has brought together various conservation stakeholders World Wildlife Fund Georgia, Caucasus Nature Fund, Eco Tours Georgia, Environmental Association Psovi, to produce what will be a stunning showcase of the beauty, nature and unique livelihoods of the rural inhabitants of Ajara.
The programme has already worked with EcoTours Ltd on developing Ajara as a destination for rural tourism based on nature and people. View their promotional video here and visit their website where they offer tailor-made tours to help you unlock the beauty of the region.
Source of Photos: Jara Documentary Film
