During the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Otar Shamugia, met with the Deputy Director General of the Asian Development Bank, Xiaohong Yang, at the Georgian pavilion.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasized the significance of the drainage system development project in Western Georgia, noting that it is critical to regulate the management of drainage systems at the legislative level and launch the necessary infrastructure projects.
Drained soil enables the creation of additional agricultural land, which will further contribute to improving the economic situation of farmers in Western Georgia.
According to Mr. Yang, collaboration with Georgia has been profitable for many years, noting that while progress is being achieved in various sectors, it is critical to enhance Georgia's agriculture sector, which is based on sustainable development, climate change resilience, and effective use of natural resources.
The parties also discussed another essential aspect of their collaboration with the Asian Development Bank: modernizing agricultural irrigation systems in Georgia.
As mentioned, climate change creates significant challenges, particularly in water resource management.
“In response to these challenges, we have launched the Climate-Smart Irrigation Sector Development Program (2023-2028), which aims to increase the sustainability and productivity of our agricultural sector. This ambitious program seeks to modernize irrigation systems in Kvemo Samgori, which encompasses over 7,300 hectares of agricultural area. By replacing outdated open canals with modern irrigation systems, we will not only improve water usage efficiency but also ensure better access to water for farmers,” said Mr. Otar Shamugia.
The First Deputy Minister, Mrs. Nino Tandilashvili, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Zurab Pataradze, attended the meeting along with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.
