Manuel Sager, the Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) visited the regional offices of the National Food Agency (NFA) and the Laboratory of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia in Akhaltsikhe during his 3-day visit to Georgia on 2-3 May, 2018.

The process of the implementation of animal identification-registration and traceability program (NAITS) was discussed during the meeting. NAITS is being implemented by FAO and the NFA with the financial support of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Austrian Development Agency.

During the visit, Manuel Sager was acquainted with NAITS-related activities at the regional level, in particular, cattle ear tagging, data collection and recording in NFA's electronic database.

“Development of agriculture is a priority for the Government of Georgia. Switzerland with UNDP, FAO, Mercy Corps and HEKS/EPER support Georgia in accelerating progress in this sector. Overall, I am very satisfied with our engagement, partnerships, and cooperation for agriculture in Georgia, and SDC looks forward to continuous progress in this respect,” Manuel Sager said.

A new, improved system of animal identification-registration program started in 2016. Under this program, the electronic database is being upgraded. This improved database will enable the NFA to track animal diseases and to ensure efficient disease control/eradication in the shortest possible time.  

“The identification-registration programme is directly related to food safety and safe epidemiological situation in the country. It should be noted that Georgia is the first country in the region implementing the identification-registration program, which is important for the whole region,” said Mikhail Sokhadze, FAO's Identification-Registration Program Manager.

At the Akhaltsikhe laboratory, special attention was paid to its importance in supporting disease control measures in Samtskhe-Javakheti, as it is a border region.

“Significant numbers of animals gather seasonally at Samtskhe-Javakheti summer pastures, and laboratory control is of particular importance for maintaining a safe environment in the region. Laboratory studies, even under the brucellosis program, help to identify various diseases and to plan appropriate preventive measures,” said Lia Bekauri, the Head of Akhaltsikhe Office of the National Food Agency.

At the end of his visit, Manuel Sager met with local students and visited successful local enterprises.