BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 15
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Drip irrigation systems were installed in three villages of eastern Georgia – Eniseli, Ruisi and Bediani with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Trend reports via the UNDP's message.
Meanwhile, this initiative shows the benefits of water-saving technologies in promoting sustainable farming. 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 Amelioration Ltd visited the village of Eniseli in Georgian Kvareli Municipality 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. With up-to-date methods of farming, we can better protect our national water resources and increase the income of local farmers,” said Deputy Minister Nino Tandilashvili.
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 $5.3 million, which is shared between Georgia and Azerbaijan. The project is in its third year of implementation and is due to conclude in 2020.
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