IFAD Media Tour in Semegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Ministry of Agriculture conducted a media tour in Semegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region with the support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
A media tour was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture on July 3 to July 5th, inviting central and regional media representatives to the Semegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. Otar Danelia, the Minister of Agriculture, personally introduced the journalists to completed and ongoing projects in the Semegrelo-Zemo Svaneti area in the directions of agricultural crediting, agricultural insurance, and safety of goods, agricultural cooperation, ministry laboratory and helping the matters of the scientific-research center.
In order to service the agricultural production development goal, various projects (beneficial agricultural crediting project, processing plan co-financing project, the “Produce in Georgia” program) are being carried out under the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture. In their frames, 136 new plants have been financed. From these, 20 were built in the Samegrelo region, which were financed with $24.5 million and created jobs for 1000 people. 30 plants were expanded and re-equipped, financed by $4 529 000 and creating 1272 jobs.
In the frames of the media tour the journalists observed two new plants – the “Produce in Georgia” financed “Stimor Representation in Georgia” (greenhouse construction) and the “Georgian Products Renaissance” (nut processing) which was financed in frames of a co-financing project. Other activities the journalists participated in included: observation of the Zugdidi-based laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture; Nosiri-based greenhouse farm; and the Mechanization Center in Abasha town where the journalists were presented with the Georgian plough.
The journalists were also given the chance to see the new greenhouse farm in Samtredia, “Imereti Greenery” Ltd, a subsidiary of the Dutch company “Foodventures”.
Greenhouse farms were built in November, 2014, in Samtredia, on thermal water deposits. The company produces 800 000 lettuces annually for the local market. The greenhouse farming received financial aid from both beneficial agricultural crediting and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The media tour was carried out under the financial support of one of the largest donors in the agriculture sector, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
During the media tour, the project head for IFAD, Lali Durmishidze, briefly talked about the activities of IFAD in Georgia, as well as their ongoing and future projects. She also showed journalists finished activities in frames of the “Agriculture Support Project (ASP)”.