Georgia Adopts European Models in Rural Development
Tuesday, October 25
The challenges of local economies in rural areas of Georgia and the needs of rural populations were discussed at public consultations on the Rural Development Policies carried out in Kutaisi and Tbilisi on 20 and 22 October.
Organised by a Georgian non-governmental organization, the Civil Development Agency (CiDA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia and with assistance from the European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the consultations addressed a range of issues that can determine the pace and effectiveness of rural development.
Social and economic issues discussed at the meetings included rural employment, business development, access to services, social aid, management of natural resources and environmental risks, as well as the engagement of citizens, including the nation's youth and vulnerable groups.
The participants of the meetings also discussed rural development models adopted in the European Union and their relevance to Georgia.
“These consultations give the opportunity to representatives of the civil society, private sector, international organisations, experts and farmers to know what are the action plans regarding rural development in Georgia. We are glad that the interest of society has been pretty high in both cities. Different ideas and suggestions have been voiced and noted during the meetings. The results of the consultations will inform the Rural Development Strategy of Georgia which will be finalised and presented to the Government in the coming weeks,” said Zviad Devdariani, Executive Director of CiDA.
The consultations were organised with the support of the European Union (EU) under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD).
