EU-Funded ENPARD Summarizes a Successful 3 Years in Georgia
The European Union (EU) funded European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) evaluated its results achieved in Georgia over the last three years in Kutaisi, Imereti region, on November 8-9.
The Interagency Conference was organized by ENPARD organization ‘People in Need’ in cooperation with the Akaki Tsereteli State University of Kutaisi and Czech University of Life Sciences of Prague.
The conference was attended by ENPARD partners, representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and farmer groups.
The participants discussed the progress of the cooperative development component of the ENPARD program and discussed achieved results gained through major implementation methodologies, key findings and shared experience.
It was noted that the cooperative system, supported by ENPARD, can lead to the improved economic development of the country. The participants noted that for the further development of cooperatives, strong support from the Ministry of Agriculture is essential.
The organizers gave farmers several recommendations regarding development of cooperative services, improving their access to financial loans and offered assistance to small farmers for the improvement of product quality.
“The conference was very interesting as there were thorough, content-based discussions from all sides of the project. I can say that there are positive trends regarding the development of cooperatives that were presented at the conference,” said Cristina Casella, Attaché and Program Manager of the European Union Delegation to Georgia.
Lauriane Gauny, Head of the mission of People in Need, noted that it was very important to gather all practitioners who have been involved in supporting cooperatives, as well the members of cooperatives and farmers.
“There is increasing awareness and understanding among the program participants about the benefits of belonging to a cooperative,” she said.
The EU-founded ENPARD program was launched in Georgia in 2013 under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.
At present, the Strategy of Agricultural Development in Georgia 2015-2020 is the main policy document guiding the sectoral reforms in the country. The main objective of the Strategy is the development of agriculture through strengthening small households and forming profitable production chains.
Under the agreement, Georgia is obliged to promote agricultural and rural development, in particular through progressive convergence of policies and legislation, including sharing knowledge and best practices of rural development policies to promote the economic well-being of rural communities, enhance the administrative capacities at central and local level and to plan, evaluate, implement and enforce policies in accordance with EU regulations and best practices.
The EU is a key donor in this area in Georgia, which, within the Single Strategic Framework (SSF) 2014/2017 for Georgia, has to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector by means of increasing volume and value of outputs in the agriculture sector, increasing knowledge and improving agriculture technologies for small farmers, and increasing the role of small farmers in commercial farming. The EU’s main tool for achieving these aims in Georgia is the ENPARD program.
Thea Morrison