Background

Georgia is a predominantly rural country with more than half of the population employed in agriculture. However, agricultural production has declined over the past decade, especially following the eruption of conflict between Georgian, South Ossetian and Russian forces in August 2008.

An estimated 127 500 people were displaced from conflict-affected areas, with enormous impacts on the agricultural production capacity of the region. Many small-scale farmers were prevented from harvesting their vital summer cereal and fruit crops and faced difficulties in planting winter crops in a timely manner.

The disruption of irrigation water originating in South Ossetia poses a significant long-term risk for future agricultural and horticultural production. The conflict also resulted in high numbers of livestock deaths and loss of farming equipment, further undermining food security. The remaining livestock owned by the affected population have become weak due to abandonment, insufficient feeding and lack of water, increasing their vulnerability to disease.  

FAO’s emergency role in Georgia

FAO reacted rapidly to the August 2008 conflict, working with the Government and international partners to conduct a comprehensive agricultural sector needs assessment and appeal for emergency agricultural support through the UN Consolidated Appeal Process.

Among FAO’s post-conflict priorities was the establishment of an Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordination Unit to provide technical assistance and coordinate the distribution of essential inputs to the most vulnerable families. FAO’s emergency operations in Georgia, aimed at rapidly restoring agriculture-based livelihoods, crop production and self-reliance, currently include:

• emergency supply of livestock feed in conflict-affected areas; and
• emergency assistance to enable small-scale farmers in conflict-affected areas to plant spring food crops.

Support for emergency assistance to prevent Transboundary Animal Diseases in livestock in conflict-affected areas is also being sought. Additional longer-term rehabilitation projects identified by FAO include the supply of farm machinery, support to seed production and seed provision for kitchen gardens and orchard rehabilitation. Furthermore, as part of the in-country interagency coordination agreements to strengthen the humanitarian response, FAO is co-chairing the Food Security Cluster in Georgia together with the World Food Programme.

Georgia is also a beneficiary of some regional and global interventions, including emergency assistance for the control and prevention of avian influenza. African Swine Fever occurred for the first time in the Caucasus in early-2007 in Georgia. FAO has offered support to the region and has two ongoing projects under FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme focusing on Georgia and Armenia.