Government Momentum Builds on Animal Movement Route after the years of discussion and information exchange. The biggest challenge in Georgian sheep sector – the Animal Movement Route issue has come to the point when there is a willingness and concrete plan for taking actions and reaching tangible results.
On November 20th, all main stakeholders of the Animal Movement Route gathered to plan further steps regarding the route infrastructure and management. The meeting was facilitated by Alliances Lesser Caucasus programme. There is no doubt that proper infrastructure of Animal Movement Route and existence of disease control mechanism during transhumance is key to sheep farming development. But lack of a clear action plan and coordinated activities – have been the subject of the dispute for years. The international consultant from UK - Edward Hamer was invited in October by ALCP for advising and designing the Animal Movement Route (please follow the link). The simple, practical recommendations – 11 action points for improving the AMR and drawings with estimated budgets prepared by the expert - were introduced to the interested parties.
Now, the infrastructural plan is available, coordinated action from the side of authorities becomes even more vital for the successful implementation of the project. For accelerating the decision-making process the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economics, the Shepherds Association and the Municipalities agreed to work closely together. For ensuing enhanced coordination a special Web Forum will be established and administered by the MOA.
The recently rehabilitated bypass Route in Tsintskaro Village is a perfect example how the coordinated work of central and local government can lead to real solution in livestock transhumance related issues. Hopefully the Tsintskaro precedent will be the first, but not single step taken towards a rehabilitated route and a revitalized livestock industry in Georgia.
Construction of the two Bio Security Points (BSP) on the Animal Movement Routes in Marneuli and Rustavi is now on a final stage.
Each 2000 square meters point is already concreted and fenced and the sheep dips and cattle showers are ready and the site office in place. The 50 ton galvanized water Tanks imported from the UK are installed. For both points the NFA will hire staff including a veterinarian.
The OLMA trade show – a Swiss Agricultural and Food Fair has been held every year since 1943 in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The year’s 74th exhibition was held from 8-18 of October. 623 exhibitors and 375000 visitors attended the show.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) was the one of the exhibitors this year. The SDC created 8 country stands including that of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the South Caucasus.
Name: Natural Produktsia Ltd
Place: Dioknisi Village, Khulo Municipality
Type of business: Cheese Factory
Product: Imeruli Cheese
Suppliers: about 450 women from 13 villages of Khulo
Current production per day: 5 tons of milk (700 kg of cheese)
The Problem
The 450 women now selling milk directly to the milk collectors of the Natural Produktsia Ltd Factory in Dioknisi, Khulo used to make cheese from their milk. Women are responsible for milking the household cattle and making the cheese, butter, sour cream and cottage cheese which is then sold as an important part of the family’s livelihood.
Selling these products however is hard and uncertain. The journey by marshutka to Batumi Agrarian Market can take up to 4 hours on bad roads. It is taken to the market by husbands or other male family members or sent with the driver and met by a relative who then tries to sell it. There is no guarantee of a sale and often the family is forced to accept a low price from the market vendors rather than take it home again.
The NFA announced a tender on September 28th for the construction of two further Bio Security Points of the same design in Dedoplistskaro and Sighnaghi municipalities. The tender winner company was identified on October 5th.
For the first time in Georgia 6 universities will soon offer specialized courses on agricultural journalism.
The universities in Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori, Telavi, Akhaltcikhe and Caucasus International Universities in Tbilisi who already offer academic programmes on journalism, mass communications and agricultural education will now add agro journalism. The course prospective tutors have just had Training of Trainers for two days.
Following work in KK and SJ the Women’s Room model is being replicated in Ajara region, where Ajara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) is proving an invaluable partner by opening the first Women’s Room at the Association of Business Women of Ajara (ABWA).
The “Women’s Room” will open up opportunities for the ABWA in terms of coordinating activities, trainings, advocacy raising meetings and information sharing. All these will contribute into stimulating women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment and attracting more women members to the association.
