The News in Brief
Friday, November 15
By Liza Mchedlidze
Kareli and Tsalka municipalities benefit from drip irrigation systems installed with UNDP and GEF support
Drip irrigation systems were installed in three villages of eastern Georgia – Eniseli, Ruisi and Bediani – with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. This demonstration initiative shows the benefits of water-saving technologies in promoting sustainable farming and countering climate change. It is part of the regional UNDP-GEF Kura II Project that assists Azerbaijan and Georgia in harmonizing water use policies and practices.
Representatives of UNDP, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the implementing company Amelioration Ltd. visited the village of Eniseli in Kvareli Municipality today to meet local farmers and authorities and see the new drip irrigation system in operation.
“Sustainable agriculture technologies save water and help increase crop yields,” said Deputy Minister Nino Tandilashvili. “With up-to-date methods of farming, we can better protect our national water resources and increase the income of local farmers.”
“Climate change is bringing dryer and warmer weather to eastern Georgia and all of Azerbaijan,” said UNDP Head Louisa Vinton.
“By helping to manage water sustainably in this predominantly agricultural transboundary river basin, we are working to further foster international cooperation at a time when we are facing increasingly scarce water resources.”
“In the Kura Basin, agriculture accounts for 70% of total water use. Reducing excess ground and surface water withdrawals will further contribute to food and water security in the region,” said UNDP-GEF Kura II Regional Project Coordinator Mary Matthews.
“Understanding the benefits of water-saving technologies allows farmers to improve their livelihoods despite the spectre of climate change.”
To demonstrate the efficiency of drip irrigation, studies of crop patterns, crop production, and water use will be carried out in the pilot villages before and after the installation of the systems. Local farmers and representatives of the farmers’ associations will attend educational seminars to learn how to use and manage the irrigation and drainage systems. The three locations were chosen to show that drip irrigation is effective for a variety of different crops: grapes in Eniseli; potatoes in Bediani; and onions in Ruisi.
The Kura II Project has a total budget of USD 5.3 million, which is shared between the two countries. The project is in its third year of implementation and is due to conclude in 2020.
PM states that the second phase of the retirement process is about to start
We are starting the second phase of decent retirement for teachers who have reached retirement age, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said at a government meeting.
According to the head of government, the second phase, for which full funding already exists, begins. The Prime Minister emphasized that the first phase of the project was successful and 6 450 teachers participated in it.
“The second phase of the project will be completed by the end of 2019. This will certainly help to promote the emergence of young teachers in the education system as well as the dignified retirement of our dignified and well-respected teachers. This is a very important project and I am confident that what started with a very effective, dignified and successful team will continue in the coming months and years,” said Gakharia.
Gakharia appoints Lela Akiashvili as the Prime Minister's advisor in the human rights field
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia nominated Lela Akiashvili as Prime Minister's Advisor on the Human Rights field at the Government session.
According to Gakharia, this direction has been passive in recent years and this situation should change.
“Today we are appointing the Prime Minister's advisor on human rights. This is Ms. Lela Akiashvili, who will definitely intensify the work of the administration in the field of human rights, as well as the work of the Human Rights Council, which has been quite passive in recent years, unfortunately. The Human Rights Secretariat will also be activated. We all understand very well and have repeatedly pointed out that the key objective of our democratic development process is to protect the individual. Therefore, Mrs. Lela, with her extensive experience in working in international organizations and in human rights activities, I am confident that she will be a worthy addition and a member of our team,” stated Gakharia.
Kareli and Tsalka municipalities benefit from drip irrigation systems installed with UNDP and GEF support
Drip irrigation systems were installed in three villages of eastern Georgia – Eniseli, Ruisi and Bediani – with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. This demonstration initiative shows the benefits of water-saving technologies in promoting sustainable farming and countering climate change. It is part of the regional UNDP-GEF Kura II Project that assists Azerbaijan and Georgia in harmonizing water use policies and practices.
Representatives of UNDP, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the implementing company Amelioration Ltd. visited the village of Eniseli in Kvareli Municipality today to meet local farmers and authorities and see the new drip irrigation system in operation.
“Sustainable agriculture technologies save water and help increase crop yields,” said Deputy Minister Nino Tandilashvili. “With up-to-date methods of farming, we can better protect our national water resources and increase the income of local farmers.”
“Climate change is bringing dryer and warmer weather to eastern Georgia and all of Azerbaijan,” said UNDP Head Louisa Vinton.
“By helping to manage water sustainably in this predominantly agricultural transboundary river basin, we are working to further foster international cooperation at a time when we are facing increasingly scarce water resources.”
“In the Kura Basin, agriculture accounts for 70% of total water use. Reducing excess ground and surface water withdrawals will further contribute to food and water security in the region,” said UNDP-GEF Kura II Regional Project Coordinator Mary Matthews.
“Understanding the benefits of water-saving technologies allows farmers to improve their livelihoods despite the spectre of climate change.”
To demonstrate the efficiency of drip irrigation, studies of crop patterns, crop production, and water use will be carried out in the pilot villages before and after the installation of the systems. Local farmers and representatives of the farmers’ associations will attend educational seminars to learn how to use and manage the irrigation and drainage systems. The three locations were chosen to show that drip irrigation is effective for a variety of different crops: grapes in Eniseli; potatoes in Bediani; and onions in Ruisi.
The Kura II Project has a total budget of USD 5.3 million, which is shared between the two countries. The project is in its third year of implementation and is due to conclude in 2020.
PM states that the second phase of the retirement process is about to start
We are starting the second phase of decent retirement for teachers who have reached retirement age, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said at a government meeting.
According to the head of government, the second phase, for which full funding already exists, begins. The Prime Minister emphasized that the first phase of the project was successful and 6 450 teachers participated in it.
“The second phase of the project will be completed by the end of 2019. This will certainly help to promote the emergence of young teachers in the education system as well as the dignified retirement of our dignified and well-respected teachers. This is a very important project and I am confident that what started with a very effective, dignified and successful team will continue in the coming months and years,” said Gakharia.
Gakharia appoints Lela Akiashvili as the Prime Minister's advisor in the human rights field
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia nominated Lela Akiashvili as Prime Minister's Advisor on the Human Rights field at the Government session.
According to Gakharia, this direction has been passive in recent years and this situation should change.
“Today we are appointing the Prime Minister's advisor on human rights. This is Ms. Lela Akiashvili, who will definitely intensify the work of the administration in the field of human rights, as well as the work of the Human Rights Council, which has been quite passive in recent years, unfortunately. The Human Rights Secretariat will also be activated. We all understand very well and have repeatedly pointed out that the key objective of our democratic development process is to protect the individual. Therefore, Mrs. Lela, with her extensive experience in working in international organizations and in human rights activities, I am confident that she will be a worthy addition and a member of our team,” stated Gakharia.