On 22 November 2018, members of the Working Group on Agricultural Extension (WGE) introduced the results of the Training Needs Assessment for extension offices; presented the recently created online library of agricultural extension materials; discussed a monitoring and evaluation framework for extension, as well as the status of implementation of the National Strategy for Agricultural Extension adopted with EU support by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) in 2017. The event was held in support to the agricultural extension services which is one of the components of the FAO’s project under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), funded and supported by the European Union (EU).

The meeting of the WGE, established under ministerial decree, brought together Deputy Minister Giorgi Khanishvili and department representatives of MEPA, together with the experts from FAO and UNDP. The Working Group steers the implementation of the National Strategy for Agricultural Extension 2018-2019 which intends to improve the competitiveness of the agriculture sector in Georgia by delivering quality advising services to the farmers and upgrading the capacities of the existing Information and Consultation Centers (ICC) throughout Georgia, turning them into a more demand-driven platform to provide technical advice to farmers.

One of the main discussion topics at the WGE was the results of the Training Needs Assessment, which allowed to identity training needs for the ICC staff in Georgia. The assessment has been carried out in all the 54 ICCs. The extensionists have been tested in different agricultural field such as: livestock, vegetables, plant protection, agro-chemistry and soil, Viticulture, Wine, Cereals and beans, Beekeeping, Horticulture, etc. According to the study, in most of the regions of Georgia, the highest intervention with the trainings for extension specialists is required in the fields of livestock, while the best knowledge was revealed in horticulture and agro-chemistry/soil. Based on the results of the study, FAO experts work on the training action plan which will try to cover the identified gaps.

At the meeting the WGE members also presented a recently launched online library of the agricultural extension materials. This public platform compiles electronic publications and video materials on the best farming techniques that have been produced by private, public and NGO sectors. The database contains 92 videos and publications so far and will be regularly updated and completed with any new agricultural extension materials.The online library is available for all stakeholders, extensionists and farmers to easily retrieve all the extension materials – http://elibrary.mepa.gov.ge/

At the next meeting the WGE members will introduce and agree upon the plan of the workshops and seminars for the extension specialists to insure their knowledge of the up-to-date practices and trends of agricultural production. In the upcoming months, WGE will also revise the status of the implementation of the Extension Strategy and Action Plan, as well as discuss the probable amendments to this document.

The European Union is supporting rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Aiming to reduce rural poverty, ENPARD has been implemented since 2013, with a total budget of Euro 179.5 million. The first phase of ENPARD focused on developing national agriculture potential, while the second and third phases focus on creating economic opportunities for the rural population that go beyond agricultural activities. More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge