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Otar Shamugia: "Using quality seeds and planting material will help to improve food safety indicators"

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia, spoke about the establishment of a certification system for seed and planting material, raising the quality level in the local market and increasing productivity within the framework of the "Minister’s Hour" format.

"The measures will be implemented to promote the use of quality seeds and planting material for high-level development for the care and cultivation of agricultural crops, which will help to improve food safety indicators. In parallel with the full implementation of the certification system for seeds and planting material, procedures for its recognition in the international trade system will begin, which, along with raising the quality level in the local market, will become a mechanism for attracting export and investments," - said Otar Shamugia.

In 2021, screen houses of international standards were set up at the Jigaura perennial crops’ test-demonstration base of the Scientific-Research Center, where the starting material of the basic category of promising varieties of vines and fruit crops was started, which will be supplied to nursery farms.

"A well-organized system of certification of seed and planting material provides customers with quality materials, which is an important basis for increasing productivity and export potential, increasing competitiveness and attracting investment," - noted the Minister.

The process of certification of seeds and planting material in Georgia has been carried out by the Scientific-Research Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture since 2015. Within the framework of fulfillment of the obligations under the Association Agreement with Europe, seeds and planting material will be subject to mandatory certification in 2024.