EU and UNDP support rural entrepreneurs in exploring green options
TBILISI. TBILISI.
In order to achieve these goals, EU and UNDP launched in 2020 a GEL 9 Million Grants Programme, in partnership with the Rural Development Agency of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. Since May 2020, 31 business projects totaling GEL 3.4 millions have been launched in eight municipalities: Akhalkalaki (Borjomi), Kazbegi (Dedoplistskaro), Keda (Keda), Khulo (Lagodekhi), Tetritskaro and Kazbegi. The grant programme will run until the end 2022, while its current round continues through April 2021. This will help rural entrepreneurs run their businesses sustainably.
The positive impact of the support was evident on 1 April, when the RDA Director Ilia Tamayashvili, Kvemo Kartli Mayor Shota Rekhviashvili, Programme Manager for Rural Development, Civil Emergencies and Crisis Management, at the EU Delegation in Georgia Ketevan Khutsishvili, and the Acting Chief of UNDP Anna Chernyshova, visited the village Orbeti, Tetritskaro Municipality, to see how solar
Giorgi Pkhakadze, owner of “Bioras“, installed 60 solar panels, 24 batteries and GEL 30,000 from grant funding provided by the EU, UNDP, and RDA on his agricultural plot to provide renewable energy for a walnut garden, a vegetable greenhouse, and a greenhouse. This helped the company save money on electricity and saved a strip of local forest that was going to be cut to repair an outdated powerline.
Ketevan Khusishvili, Programme Manager for Rural Development, Civil Emergencies and Crisis Management, EU Delegation in Georgia, said: “The EU-supported grant programme aims at protecting livelihoods threatened by lockdowns.” “I am particularly pleased that our support promotes the use of renewable energies and sustainable agriculture.”
Anna Chernyshova, UNDP’s Acting Director, said that “energy efficiency and green solutions” are at the heart of our grants program for rural businesses. We have the chance to promote green solutions in rural areas, which will benefit both people as well as the planet.
“One of the main objectives of the Rural Development Agency (RDA) is to promote the development of non-agricultural activity in rural areas. With the support of the EU and UNDP, we are implementing the Rural Development Program. As energy efficiency was one of the main directions in this programme, Bioras used this assistance to create a solar energy system, an alternative source of energy which helped them better manage their business.” said RDA Director Ilia Tamayashvili.
The EU and UNDP have been long-term supporters of the rural development in Georgia. The EU has allocated more than GEL 600,000,000 (EUR 179.5,000,000) in EU assistance to Georgia for the ENPARD program 2013-2022. This support is intended to improve agricultural productivity, refine policies for rural development, and create new opportunities for rural communities in agriculture as well as outside of it. The EU and MEPA are working in parallel with UNDP to implement a grants program to support farm businesses and increase food security. You can find more information about ENPARD at http://enpard.ge
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