Otar Shamugia got familiar with the rehabilitation works of the Zemo Alazani irrigation system and held a meeting with local farmers
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia accompanied by Tengiz Nasaridze, General Director of Georgian Amelioration Ltd. got acquainted with the rehabilitation works of the Zemo Alazani irrigation system in Telavi Municipality and held a meeting with the local farmers.
The project amounting to more than GEL 3 million envisages the restorati12.4-kilometre-length-length water distributor pipe and its branches. As a result, water will flow smoothly into the canal, thus ensuring additional irrigation on 300 hectares of agricultural land area.
"We are making large investments in the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure across the country, by using both the budget funding, as well as donor support. At the initiative of the Prime Minister, we are gradually launching the infrastructure rehabilitation projects worth about GEL 200 million, which will significantly contribute to the provision of a safe and stable water supply to our farmers.
Moreover, the adoption of modern irrigation technologies is crucial. Under the framework of the "Plant the Future" and "Preferential Agro Credit" programs, we are financing the drip irrigation systems to support farmers.
" Within the '’Plant the Future'’ program, new intensive gardens have been planted on about 17,000 hectares, which are fully equipped with the modern irrigation systems," stated Mr. Otar Shamugia, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
According to the Minister, it is important to build new and rehabilitate the existing reservoirs in the phase of climate change. The research is being conducted with the assistance of the World Bank, and the results will show where to build, arrange or rehabilitate the reservoirs.
As part of the works, the distribution channel and its branches will be cleared of trees and shrubs, existing pipes will be replaced with new ones, hydrants structures will be installed and hydraulic structures will be built. The population of the village of Ruispiri will use the irrigation canal.
It should be mentioned, that 90 infrastructure rehabilitation projects have been implemented in the Kakheti region since 2012. The total cost of the works amounted to GEL 53.6 million. In addition, more than 16 thousand hectares of agricultural land area are regularly irrigated, water supply has been improved to 13 300 hectares, and drainage took place on more than 8 000 hectares of arable land in the region.
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