BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Supporting restoration and production of Georgian endemic wheat species is an important part of the strategy of ministry, said Deputy Minister of the Environmental Protection and Agriculture Nino Tandilashvili, Trend reports referring to the ministry.
Tandilashvili and Head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Georgia Luisa Winton visited the demonstration-nursery farm of endemic and local wheat varieties in the village of Asureti, Tetritskaro Municipality and observed the harvesting process of rare Georgian wheat varieties Dika and Shavpkha. Representatives of the non-governmental sector also attended the event.
Tandilashvili highlighted Georgian government policy on the restoration, preservation and reproduction of Georgian wheat species.
"Promoting the restoration and production of Georgian endemic wheat varieties is a part of the strategy of our ministry. We have a huge potential for selection and production of new wheat varieties," said the deputy minister.
"The restoration of endemic and local varieties, that are resistant to climate change and have a distinctive taste is crucial. I am mostly pleased that we provide a support to the restoration of wheat varieties, whereby local initiatives and enthusiasm play a key role,” said Winton.
Meanwhile, Dika and Shavpkha varieies were restored at the initiative of the Georgian Wheat Producers Unionand funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Georgia.
Small local projects are being implemented in various regions of Georgia to address with the most important environmental issues with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, United Nations Development Program and Global Environment Facility.
The GEF Small Grants Program has been launched in Georgia since 2012. During this time, more than 70 local environmental projects have been implemented under the program, whereby, the amount of funding has exceeded $1.6 million.
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