Heather Briggs, agronomist, agro-consultant on plant productivity, international expert on cheese and journalist visited Tbilisi to hold the training for agro-journalists last week. ‘Batumelebi’ newspaper interviewed her.
- Mrs. Briggs, what challenge do you see in Georgian agriculture?
- The first challenge is the perception of farming. I think the farming has to be made more professional and has to be recognized as a profession. People must be proud of what they do.
- The Government has started working on developing cooperatives in Georgia. How possible do you consider to develop cooperative farming in Georgian?
- This is a very difficult question. If people working for cooperatives will manage to work as a team, I think this can be a good idea. But I don’t know how Georgians perceive cooperatives, because they were very badly managed at Soviet time and this experience can influence on the development of cooperative system today.
- What will be your advice for improving farming in Georgia from European experience?
- I thing first of all, the farmer needs to understand some new techniques. The farmer needs to be open for improving and see that from using new technics they can benefit and they can make better living. I do not think that to be a successful a farm has to be a big. The farming should be profit oriented.
- How can traditional farming be transformed into modern farming?
- This takes time. You must give the farmers time to adapt. You must inspire them, so they want to learn.
- Who has to inspire farmers?
- Everyone must work together in Georgia for success. I think, consumers, regulations, but I think the main area of information must come from the press. The role of agricultural press is to do knowledge transfer.
- How long is a process of improving breeds in agriculture and for reaching the good results?
- It takes a long time and this is going to take several generations. What you do not need to do is bringing unsuitable breeds from elsewhere. The breed must be able to thrive in Georgia.
- What can you say about brucellosis, there are lots of cases of this disease identified in Georgia?
- Brucellosis is a disease that requires professional approach from the government of the country: to set up a programme of testing, monitoring and slaughtering animals with brucellosis. Your Minister has mentioned positive steps, including considering some compensation for those people who lose their cattle through brucellosis.
- What about the role of agriculture in the economy, do you think that small farmers can have an impact on economic development?
- Agriculture is vital and has one of the main roles in economic development. Small farmers, big farmers they all contribute in this process. I think one of the main challenges is that farmers need to start planning, they need to know what they are doing and for this they need education, information. One of the main sources of this information and knowledge is agricultural press.
- How do you see Georgian Agriculture from the point of view of politics?
- Politics and Agriculture – they need to work close together. Georgian needs to be one team. Politics, economy, agriculture - if you do not works together you will not get anywhere.
- Considering the reality of Georgia, what is a first thing we should do?
- Consolidate and work together.
The interview is prepared by “Batumelebi" newspaper
February, 2015
The ‘Georgian Milk’ mark has been registered in the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia - Saqpatenti. The mark is now protected to avoid falsification and strengthen the ownership of Business Institute of Georgia, an independent body which will regularly audit dairies granted license to use the mark.
Eighteen dairy enterprises have already applied to use the mark.
The new ‘Georgian Milk’ mark will distinguish dairy products made from natural raw milk.
Information per enterprise will be published online on a www.georgianmilk.ge website which will come online at beginning of March. This will allow consumers to look up the products they are buying using a unique register number printed on the label.
A national promotion campaign conducted by GMA international marketing company to introduce the mark to the public and retailers will be rolled out from the end of next month.
A presentation of a new ‘Georgian Milk’ mark was held on the 22nd of January at Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi.
Up to 150 dairy enterprises and representatives of supermarkets, agri markets, sectoral associations and Government Agencies participated in the meeting.
The new ‘Georgian Milk’mark will distinguish dairy products made from natural raw milk. The ‘Georgian Milk’ mark will be found only on dairy products produced from Georgian natural raw milk and which do not contain milk powder and/or any vegetable oils. The purpose of the mark is to promote products made from Georgian natural raw milk, which will help consumers make informed decisions while buying milk and other dairy products. A recent large national consumer survey by the Caucasus Research Resource Centre of urban consumers across Georgia showed that consumers want to be able to buy ‘ecologically clean’ dairy products, meaning clean milk that comes from healthy grass fed cattle and dairy products produced in clean regulated enterprises. The research found that the majority of consumers had difficulty in identifying or being able to buy such products as these products are currently undifferentiated in shops. The ‘Georgian Milk’ mark will therefore solve this problem.
The ALCP facilitated the Georgian Beekeepers Union to develop infographic regards Do’s and Don’ts of Antibiotic Use, providing guidelines for the beekeepers on proper usage of antibiotics and preventing honey and beeswax from contamination with the antibiotics. The full version of the infographic is available here.
On December 26th, the Journalism Resource Centre presented its second edition of the agri journalism module. About hundred guests from the government, business and academic sphere attended the event.
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili stated: ‘I am very glad to hear about all the initiatives related to agri journalism. Education is very important in agriculture for ensuring information dissemination for farmers. The door of the Minister of Agriculture is open for you at any time and our partnership with regional media is very important.’
The agri module was created for inclusion in BA in journalism degrees. Now, ten universities across Georgia have the agri journalism module established in their curriculum, lasting one semester with a total of 15 credit hours. Four more universities are about to do the same this year. 369 students have undergone the course in Georgia to date. Now those initiatives are ready for transfer to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
During the event, the Journalism Resource Centre awarded farmers and specialists within the agricultural sector. The Best Female Farmer of the Year award was given to beekeeper Mariam Kiladze; the Best Vet of the Year was Giorgi Tcikhelashvili from Dmanisi, he is 25 years-old who graduated from the Vet Department at Agrarian University and went back to Dmanisi and is working as a vet. The Best Male Farmer award was given to shepherd Giorgi Imerlishvili. Credo and the EBRD were recognized as financial institutions that supports agriculture, and SDC Project Mercy Corps Alliances Caucasus Programme for supporting agri media journalism.
At the end of the event, the Journalism Resource Centre announced the establishment of the Agro Guild, which unites journalists and media organizations, businesses, farmers, public officials, and universities and sets up annual or bi-annual advisory committees. The members of media associations and the JRC also announced that they are planning to establish an Agri TV program, the pilot of which will start in three months.
Follow this link for additional news regarding the event.
For the first time ever, twenty Jara producers have sold their entire crop of Jara to a commercial enterprise. Jara honey will soon be available in shops in Georgia.
See photos below.
The construction of a new Veterinary Surveillance Point has recently started in Bolnisi municipality. The works will be finished in December 2018. The point will be the six and final point in the Veterinary Surveillance network throughout the Animal Movement Route.
During five transhumance seasons in 2016-2018 total 1.4 million heads of sheep and cattle were treated against ecto-parasites free of charge at all operational Veterinary Surveillance Points in Rustavi, Marneuli, Signagi, Dedoplistskaro and Kvareli municipalities.
