On May 17, 2018, Aleksandre Tevzadze,  Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture and Valerian Gobronidze, Head of the Department of the Ministry of Education and Science visited Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

   The honorable guests were welcomed by the President of GAAS, Academician Guram Aleksidze, Vice-President Acad. Givi Japaridze, the Head of Academic Departments, Acad. E. Shapakidze and Dr. Anatoli Giorgadze, also by Acad. N. Chitanava, Expert,  the head of Scientific Departments Acad. Jemal Gugushvili and Acad. Omar Keshelashvili, Learned-Secretaries Dr. Marina Barvenashvili and Dr. Revaz Lolishvili.

 The main goal of the meeting was to exchange valuable information and set out the perspectives for further cooperation and development.

    The guests were taken around to show the premises of the Academy: The library, exhibition room, the Center for raising qualification of the farmers, and conference halls.

 The meeting continued in the Conference Hall and the guests learned about the history of the Academy, about its achievements for the last five years, the presentations were delivered regarding broad and intensive relations of the Academy with international scientific and educational centers and organizations, and the memorandums signed with those centers. The guests were given opportunity to be acquainted with academic publications and more than 100 practical recommendations prepared by GAAS.

   Constructive dialogue between the two sides also dealt with all those problems which hinder normal functioning of the Academy, those are:  scholarships which should be introduced; the building of the Academy, increase of monthly salary of the academicians;  the salaries for academic positions which should be included in the budget;  funds for functioning of  Center for raising qualification of the farmers, increase of finances for business trips, active participation of the members of the Academy in preparing educational programs,  involvement of academicians in development of professional programs in  agrarian field; and also active participation of the academicians as experts in scientific work carried out by the Ministry, also their participation in the expert  work carried out by Shota Rustaveli Scientific Foundation. The meeting participants concluded that the relations between the Academy and the Ministries of Agriculture and Education should become more creative, resourceful and versatile.

 Deputy Minister Tevzadze expressed full contentment with regards of the readiness of the Academy to take part in different projects. He said his intention is to discuss those proposals together with the minister of Education Chkhenkeli to find possible positive solutions to the problems stated above.     

Photo: A. Tevzadze,  Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture and Valerian Gobronidze, Head of the Department of the Ministry of Education and Science.

Photo: President of the Academy,  Acad. G. Aleksidze and Vice President Acad. G. Japaridze in the exhibition hall of the Academy together with the guests. 

    On May 11, 2018, at Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the 6^th Session of Scientific Department of Cattle Breeding and Veterinary was held. Two problems were on the agenda:

1. 1.A full account on conducted researches by the Scientific Department of Cattle Breeding and Veterinary – Presenter: Rusudan Barkalaia, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences.
2. 2.Survival and development of Georgian silkworm gene-fund;

Presenter: Nargiz Baramidze, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences.   

       The Meeting was attended by the Head of Scientific Department, Academician Elguja Shapakidze, Coordinator of Scientific Departments, Dr. Anatoli Giorgadze, the Head of Cattle Breeding and Veterinary Department, Academician Jemal Gugushvili,  Academicians T. Kurashvili, Guram Tkemaladze, Scientific Secretaries of the Academy, Dr. Marina Barvenashvili and Dr. Revaz Lolishvili. Also, the meeting participants were invited guests, specialists of veterinary, bee-breeding and food production.

Dr. Rusudan Barkalaia, the Head of Scientific Department of Cattle Breeding and Veterinary, Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, in her speech summarized the results of scientific research work conducted by the Department  and made some comments regarding the research results which should be considered in future. 

 The reviewers - Academician T. Kurashvili and Dr. G. Bochorishvili, Dr. M. Barvenashvili talked about strong and week sides of the research and mentioned that the academy is always ready to give advice regarding any problem which may arise during the research to be solved successfully.  Academician T. Kurashvili shared his opinion about changing the account form because the existed one does not reflect full information about scientific work conducted. Besides, It is necessary to include more researchers in the projects to carry out  high quality scientific- research work.  

      Dr. Nargiz Baramidze presented to the audience current problems in sericulture; for example, the building constructed for cocoon production is not enough to keep Georgian species of silkworm and has little capacity to produce cocoon;  Also there is not enough specialists and labor force.

In regards with those problems , the head of Academic Department, Academician E. Shapakidze who was a reviewer of scientific work fulfillment, talked about the necessity to survive 65 species of of silk worm; also mentioned that a working group should be set up which will organize and lead the revival of the field of sericulture in Georgia.

 By the end of the meeting, Academician J. Gugushvili thanked the meeting participants for their active involvement in the discussion of the scientific projects and designing the future development plans. He positively evaluated the work conducted by the Departments and at the same time expressed his criticism towards those who pay little attention to the problems which are so urgent for sustainable development of Georgian agriculture.    

On May 4, 2018, in the Conference Hall of Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences  a presentation dedicated to Summing up of the  Results of Grant Project  FR/454/10 – 140/14      (Fundamental Research) was held. The Project title is: Working out methodology of nomenclature and quantity of necessary agricultural technologies in the regions according to the cultures and the area occupied by them.

The project duration was 3 years and it was sponsored by Shota Rustaveli National Scientific Foundation.

The presentation was attended by the President of GAAS Academician G. Aleksidze, and the members of the Academy, R. Makharoblidze, SH. Chalaganidze, O. Keshelashvili, and others.

The chief executives of the grant were Academicians:  Elguja Shapakidze, ( the project leader and supervisor); Givi Mosashvili, Chief Specialist of GAAS, Grigol Chitaia – Academic Doctor.

Also, the project assistants were: Anatoli Giorgadze – GAAS Deputy of President, -Academic Doctor, Karen Bodzashvili -Academic Doctor, Ronald Japaridze - Academic Doctor, Mariam Mosashvili – GAS Chief Specialist, Revaz Makharoblidze, GAAS Academician, invited specialist, Eteri Kurashvili – Accountant.

The presentations about the project development and its results were made by Academician Elguja Shapakidze,the project leader; and key executives of the project: Dr. Givi Mosashvili and Eteri Kurashvili – Accountant.

The Project involved 8 regions of Georgia , 36 Regional Information- Consulting Centers which submitted important data and materials to the project, therefore contributed to successful development of the project.

The results of the project are significant. It presents a new methodology and computer programs to determine the amount of technical devices needed for separate farms, regions, and for the entire country to be applied in management of agriculture.

New methodology could be also applied in the construction business, road construction, and in many other areas, in which the amount of technical devices applied depends on technologies and scope of work done.

The calculation method could be applied by the Government as the foundation for Technical Policy in Agriculture. Also, The Ministry of Agriculture and Statistical Department may use it for planning and calculation.

Within the grant project, 3 program accounts were prepared and 13 scientific articles were published also, 2 scientific researches (published as a separate brochures), and one Final Report and some recommendations. ( 180 pages).

On May 3, 2018, at 12 o’clock, a ceremony of signing memorandum between Georgian Parliament Staff and Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences was held. The participants were the staff of the Parliament and the representatives of 11 scientific and study organizations including GAAS. From the side of the Parliament staff, memorandum was signed by the head of the staff Givi Mikanadze, and from the GAAS, the president, Academician Guram Aleksidze. The subject of the memorandum is cooperation between the sides based on mutual understanding and respect. Its aim is to develop: a. joint activities and collaboration on urgent and important problems;  b. scientific and study programs, c. highly qualified personnel, publications of study programs,  text-books and other necessary scientific materials.

The Academy of Agriculture takes responsibility to support, train, raise the qualification and involve in different projects and educational activities the members of the Parliament.