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GEORGIAN EXPERIENCE – GEORGIAN EXPERIENCE – and Strategy for and Strategy for

FutureFuture

DAVID NAKANIDAVID NAKANI Environmental Pollution Control ProgramEnvironmental Pollution Control Program

DAREJAN KAPANADZEDAREJAN KAPANADZEWorld Bank Office TbilisiWorld Bank Office Tbilisi

GeorgiaGeorgia

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Structure of Presentation: Structure of Presentation:

BackgroundBackground Project objectivesProject objectives Project implementationProject implementation Challenges facedChallenges faced Successful solutionsSuccessful solutions Outputs and impactOutputs and impact Conclusions and future Conclusions and future

perspectivesperspectives

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BackgroundBackground

Main burning issue - soil erosionMain burning issue - soil erosion Pollution of rivers draining into Pollution of rivers draining into

the Black Sea the Black Sea Heavy use of pesticides and Heavy use of pesticides and

fertilizersfertilizers Weak environmental regulationsWeak environmental regulations

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BackgroundBackground continued continued NoNo33 - N concentrations in river waters are - N concentrations in river waters are

several times higher than EU water quality several times higher than EU water quality

standardsstandards Higher chemical concentration in fruits and Higher chemical concentration in fruits and

vegetables limits exports to EC marketsvegetables limits exports to EC markets Farmers lack skills to adopt modern farming Farmers lack skills to adopt modern farming

methods that are environmentally soundmethods that are environmentally sound Destruction of bio-diversity (flora and fauna)Destruction of bio-diversity (flora and fauna) Deforestation for lack of fossil fuelsDeforestation for lack of fossil fuels

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Environment Pollution Control Environment Pollution Control ProgramProgram

Preparation stage: 1999 – 2001Preparation stage: 1999 – 2001

Technologies/best practices selected for Technologies/best practices selected for extension:extension:

Improved storage, handling and utilization of animal wasteImproved storage, handling and utilization of animal waste Recovery of degraded soils and sustainable land Recovery of degraded soils and sustainable land

cultivation cultivation Environment friendly protection of crops and increase of Environment friendly protection of crops and increase of

productivityproductivity Monitoring quality of water and soil Monitoring quality of water and soil

Implementation stage: 2002-2006Implementation stage: 2002-2006 Demonstration and acquisition of the selected Demonstration and acquisition of the selected

technologiestechnologies Assessing their efficiency, impact and sustainabilityAssessing their efficiency, impact and sustainability

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ObjectivesObjectives Promote efficient practices of on-farm

nutrient management in the selected watersheds to reduce river water pollution and meet requirements of the EU Nitrate and Clean Water Directives

Demonstrate and disseminate use of bio-gas digesters to reduce household demand for firewood and cut methane emissions into the atmosphere

Carry out adaptive research, on-farm testing and extension of the advanced farming practices that improve productivity and decrease environmental damage

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Challenges FacedChallenges Faced

Choosing watersheds adequate for Program implementation and farmer education

Picking farmers for adoption of environment friendly agricultural practices

Selecting appropriate technologies/practices for pollution control

Optimizing bio-gas digester design to achieve good performance throughout all seasons

Operating in a setting with poor rural economy and weak infrastructure

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Successful SolutionsSuccessful Solutions Controlling soil erosionControlling soil erosion – – terracing, contouring, buffer strips, reduces terracing, contouring, buffer strips, reduces

tillage, crop rotationtillage, crop rotation Reducing the flow of manure and chemicals Reducing the flow of manure and chemicals

to river watersto river waters – – manure storage facilities, bio-gas digesters, use manure storage facilities, bio-gas digesters, use

of manure as fertilizer and nutrient managementof manure as fertilizer and nutrient management Minimizing the use of pesticidesMinimizing the use of pesticides –– laying basis for the development of organic laying basis for the development of organic

farmingfarming Monitoring river and ground water quality Monitoring river and ground water quality

and assessing impact of the adopted and assessing impact of the adopted practicespractices

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2002-2004 Outputs and Impact2002-2004 Outputs and Impact Bio-gas digesters installed at 120 farms Manure storage facilities arranged at 310 farms Good agricultural practices adopted in 279

farms Individual nutrient management plans

developed for 220 farmers Training in good management practices

delivered to 2500 farmers Comprehensive water monitoring program put

in place for three watersheds

In three years the Ochkhomuri river water quality

improved significantly to meet EU nitrate standard

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ConclusionsConclusions Focusing agricultural research on farmers’

needs and adapting it to the real rural life setting is a single window of opportunity for the national agricultural knowledge system

Extension of advanced technologies to the subsistence, small and medium farmers is a challenging task, taking time and resources for demonstrating, carrying out participatory trails and building awareness

Making tangible change in the quality of environment proved possible through concentration of external and local resources within a focus area

Strong economic incentives are only viable tools for sustaining the present positive trend as well as for exporting it beyond the pilot area

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Challenges Challenges for Scaling up EPC Programfor Scaling up EPC Program

Agricultural non-point sources of pollution have significant impact on water quality at present, with a potential to increase in future

Majority of Georgian farmers do not use environment friendly technologies and are unaware of damage to public health and environment made by their current farming practices

Georgia lacks adequate environmental regulations and economic policies to achieve compliance with EU Nitrate and Clean Water Directives

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Strategy for FutureStrategy for Future

Facilitate compliance with the obligations of EU

membership Develop adequate environmental regulations and Develop adequate environmental regulations and

create economic incentives create economic incentives Set up a viable extension system to rejuvenate Set up a viable extension system to rejuvenate

rural economy and develop export opportunities rural economy and develop export opportunities Establish a reliable and affordable long-term Establish a reliable and affordable long-term

water quality monitoring programwater quality monitoring program Seek opportunities for receiving support from Seek opportunities for receiving support from

GEF, EU, MCG, bilateral donors and other GEF, EU, MCG, bilateral donors and other sources in carrying on the successfully piloted sources in carrying on the successfully piloted activities activities

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Thank YouThank You