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Potato production in Samtskhe-Javakheti region is characterized by increasing tendencies

Georgian representation of the International Potato Center (CIP) has been officially opened. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture – Iuri Nozadze, Deputy Director of the Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture – Nodar khatiashvili and a Chief Operating Officer - Michael Gerba attended the opening ceremony. Regional Leader for Central Asia and the Caucasus, International Potato Center (CIP), Rusudan Mdivani spoke about the importance of Georgia’s representation, regarding their projects and plans.

The event was focused on the discussion of cooperation between International Potato Center and LEPL Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture, on the joint projects and common vision. As the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Iuri Nozadze noted, potato planting in Georgia is a perspective field and sharing international experience in this direction is important.

It should be noted, that potato production in Samtskhe-Javakheti region is characterized by increasing trends. This year farmers have received a lot of crops and in the neighboring countries, the potato export has been increased. A big share of potato production in Georgia comes to Samtskhe-Javakheti region and it is 64% of the country’s total production, which is a high rate of potato production. Potatoes exported this year exceeded 35 thousand tons, which is 7 times higher than the same period last year. The demand for high quality potato is also high on the local market. According to farmers, the demand for export and on the local market increased by doubling prices, which increased their income 2 times.

In a few years, a certification system will be launched. The law on Certification of Seeds is already in force and voluntary certification of several cooperative farms has begun. This helps farmers to use a quality seed material in order to get a high quality production.

At the end of the official part, Gerhard Schaumberger, Head of the Austrian Development Agency, presented the project ‘’Enhancing Rural livelihoods in Georgia: Introducing Integrated Seed health Approaches to Local Potato Seed Systems’’. Within the framework of the project, workshops will be held till the October 14th, which will be attended by industry experts and manufacturers.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Scientific-Research center of Agriculture and International Potato Center in 2016 and this became a precondition for opening the Georgian representation of the International Potato Center. Within the framework of the Memorandum, five years program was elaborated based on the existing problems in the field, which will contribute to the development of potato planting in Georgia.

The International Potato Center will become a regional office in Georgia, which will cover the Central Asia and the Caucasus countries. The International Potato Center in Georgia will introduce innovative technologies for potato care and present new perspective varieties, it will increase farmers and producers knowledge as well.

The International Potato Center is an international organization of the International Consulting Group of Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which was founded in 1971 by its initiative. The mission of the International Potato Center is to cooperate with partners in achieving food security, helping people who live in a poverty and protecting gender equality through the development and implementation of agricultural research and innovation.