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 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
