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Projects
Capacity Development of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia: Improved Policy Making and Effective Implementation of the Strategy for Agricultural Development (contribution to ENPARD Georgia Programme)
Short Description:
Overall goal
The project aims to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector by supporting the implementation of the Strategy of Agriculture Development 2012 - 2022 and strengthening small farmers and small farmers’ organizations. This project complements the ENPARD Georgia Programme and specifically is linked to the ENPARD European Commission/FAO “Capacity Development of the Ministry of Agriculture”.
Expected results
The expected results are that the policy formulation and decision making capacities of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) will be substantially upgraded. There will be more economically and operationally viable farmer cooperatives fully functioning. MoA establishes the institutional structure of decentralized offices that are efficiently organized to serve specific regional and sectoral development targets.
Target group / Beneficiaries
A total of 10,100 people, mainly farmers and staff of relevant institutions, will directly benefit from the project activities. A total of 193,100 people (families of farmers, seed producers, the general population of Less Favoured Areas, etc.) are estimated to indirectly benefit from the project. The main project partners will be the Ministry of Agriculture and other line ministries/government agencies, local authorities and agricultural service providers. Farmers, farmers’ organizations, rural families and other private sector stakeholders will be the ultimate beneficiaries. Throughout the project implementation the approach adopted will be one of participation, engagement and ownership. As far as practically possible, both genders and all ethnic and social groups will be equally engaged.
Activities
Activities within this project will be implemented in following areas:
1) Capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in promotion of farmers organizations and farmer cooperation strengthened and National Agency for Cooperatives established
2) an institutional framework to support decentralized MoA offices of the extension system developed by MoA
3) policies to support environmentally friendly agriculture developed and implemented, and
4) the sustainable models for rural development in mountainous areas and specifically in disadvantaged areas identified and developed.
Context
The project complements the European Neighborhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) Georgia by providing support to MoA activities in the areas where additional assistance is required to implement identified activities. It adds value by having developed the broader technical assistance toolbox for agriculture and rural development, addressing additional areas outside the scope of assistance of the overall ENPARD Georgia Programme but highlighted in the Strategy of Agricultural Development and the Action Plan to implement the Strategy of Agricultural Development.