Moldova interested in Georgia’s anti-hail system

A revolutionary anti-hail system developed by Georgia’s State Military Scientific Centre Delta to save crops from harmful hail is attracting global interest.

Delta exclusively told Agenda.ge Moldova was among the "many countries” that were interested in installing Georgia’s unique anti-hail system in their own nations. The anti-hail system has proven to have a positive effect in reducing crop damage caused by hail.

A spokesperson from Delta’s press centre said negotiations were currently underway and the sides were defining the cooperation details.

Moldova first learned about Georgia’s anti-hail system when a delegation from Moldova’s Agriculture Ministry visited Georgia in October 2015. During the visit the guests discovered the anti-hail system designed by Delta. The concept attracted the immediate attention of the Moldavian officials.

Negotiations between Georgia and Moldova started shortly after this however the technical aspect of the talks had not started yet, said Delta.

The company told Agenda.ge a working group from Delta will depart for Moldova in February to assist the country implement the first stage of its own anti-hail system.

While there, Delta experts will explore the planned sites where the anti-hail devices will be installed. The Georgian experts will examine how many launching points would be necessary to reduce crop damage in Moldova.

After this, the sides will sit down again to begin deeper negotiations.

Georgia’s Ministry of Agriculture told Agenda.ge Moldova again expressed its interest in the anti-hail system earlier this month in Berlin, where Georgia’s Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia met his Moldavian counterpart during the Green Week (Grune Woche) 2016 exhibition.

Georgia’s anti-hail system was first installed in Kakheti in March 2015. The system underwent its first test in April last year.

More than 80 anti-hail firing points in Kakheti were identified and the system became operational in the middle of last year.

Minister Danelia said installation of anti-hail devices had significantly reduced the effects of 32 hail storms last year.

The anti-hail system aimed to reduce hail damage on crops by almost 95 percent. The state allocated about 15 million GEL to fund the project.

The anti-hail system worked by launching an unguided 60mm rocket into the air. Each rocket has the capacity to carry 50-70g of silver iodide reagent.

When the rocket reached the appropriate height, the silver iodine reagent was dispersed at an altitude of 2.5-4.5km above ground for 30-35 seconds.

The Ministry estimated about 5,000 rockets would be needed in Georgia per year. (agenda.ge)