Prime Minister of Georgia Vano Merabishvili met with local farmers in Bolnisi. The main topic of the meeting was implemented by the Government initiatives, as well as initiatives, planned for the next four years.
One of the most important initiatives the Prime Minister addressed to farmers at a meeting, was decentralization of the Government. According to the statement of Vano Merabishvili, in the next four years the main course of his government will be a rearrangement of the main part of government control to the local governments and rural agents, that will result that the issues concerning permits, licenses and other regulations will be resolved on the spot. The Prime Minister said that the decision making on the spot, in a particular area, village or town will be much more efficient as local authorities, together with the population, know better specific problems of their districts or villages and the ways of solution.
According to the statement of the Prime Minister, the basis of a strong country is a strong farmer, and accordingly, the main task of the State is up growth of agriculture and maximum supporting of farmers. According to the Vano Merabishvili, that's exactly why it is planned to create 500 agricultural enterprises over the next four years; additional irrigation of at least 95 hectares of land, draining of 35,000 flooded hectares and turning them into cultivated area.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of intensive communication of Government and representatives of agriculture, so that by working together to increase production and quality of agricultural products and to allow the import of local products abroad.
The Prime Minister stressed that the regions of Bolnisi and Dmanisi are the main areas of manufacturing of agricultural products, so the support of the Government is important to became it possible produce more products in these areas. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of modern technologies in development of agriculture in this area and talked in details about the already functioning several experimental farms in different parts of Georgia. Vano Merabishvili said that the Government is ready to provide maximum assistance to farmers, interested in introduction of modern technologies, including through the establishment of various benefits.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister invited the farmers in one of the experimental farms, located in Bolnisi, so that they directly view the opportunities of introduction of modern technologies in agriculture. The total demonstration area, located in the village of Talaveri of Bolnisi region is 130 hectares. Within the scope of the pilot project of agricultural corporations, this year were handled 50 ha of land. Variety of vegetables, tomatoes, onions, potatoes and beans are planted on demonstration area. Land is irrigated by modern drip irrigation system, which increases the productivity. 40 local people works in the area and depending on the season their number increases to 70.
