1 GEORGIAN EXPERIENCE – and Strategy for Future DAVID NAKANI Environmental Pollution Control Program DAREJAN KAPANADZE World Bank Office Tbilisi Georgia

2 Structure of Presentation: Background Background Project objectives Project objectives Project implementation Project implementation Challenges faced Challenges faced Successful solutions Successful solutions Outputs and impact Outputs and impact Conclusions and future perspectives Conclusions and future perspectives

3 Background Main burning issue - soil erosion Main burning issue - soil erosion Pollution of rivers draining into the Black Sea Pollution of rivers draining into the Black Sea Heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers Heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers Weak environmental regulations Weak environmental regulations

4 Background continued No 3 - N concentrations in river waters are several times higher than EU water quality standards No 3 - N concentrations in river waters are several times higher than EU water quality standards Higher chemical concentration in fruits and vegetables limits exports to EC markets Higher chemical concentration in fruits and vegetables limits exports to EC markets Farmers lack skills to adopt modern farming methods that are environmentally sound Farmers lack skills to adopt modern farming methods that are environmentally sound Destruction of bio-diversity (flora and fauna) Destruction of bio-diversity (flora and fauna) Deforestation for lack of fossil fuels Deforestation for lack of fossil fuels

5 Environment Pollution Control Program Preparation stage: 1999 – 2001 Preparation stage: 1999 – 2001 Technologies/best practices selected for extension: Technologies/best practices selected for extension: Improved storage, handling and utilization of animal waste Improved storage, handling and utilization of animal waste Recovery of degraded soils and sustainable land cultivation Recovery of degraded soils and sustainable land cultivation Environment friendly protection of crops and increase of productivity Environment friendly protection of crops and increase of productivity Monitoring quality of water and soil Monitoring quality of water and soil Implementation stage: Implementation stage: Demonstration and acquisition of the selected technologies Demonstration and acquisition of the selected technologies Assessing their efficiency, impact and sustainability Assessing their efficiency, impact and sustainability

6 Objectives Promote efficient practices of on-farm nutrient management in the selected watersheds to reduce river water pollution and meet requirements of the EU Nitrate and Clean Water Directives Demonstrate and disseminate use of bio-gas digesters to reduce household demand for firewood and cut methane emissions into the atmosphere Carry out adaptive research, on-farm testing and extension of the advanced farming practices that improve productivity and decrease environmental damage

7 Challenges Faced Choosing watersheds adequate for Program implementation and farmer education Picking farmers for adoption of environment friendly agricultural practices Selecting appropriate technologies/practices for pollution control Optimizing bio-gas digester design to achieve good performance throughout all seasons Operating in a setting with poor rural economy and weak infrastructure

8 Successful Solutions Controlling soil erosion – Controlling soil erosion – terracing, contouring, buffer strips, reduces tillage, crop rotation terracing, contouring, buffer strips, reduces tillage, crop rotation Reducing the flow of manure and chemicals to river waters – Reducing the flow of manure and chemicals to river waters – manure storage facilities, bio-gas digesters, use of manure as fertilizer and nutrient management manure storage facilities, bio-gas digesters, use of manure as fertilizer and nutrient management Minimizing the use of pesticides – Minimizing the use of pesticides – laying basis for the development of organic farming laying basis for the development of organic farming Monitoring river and ground water quality and assessing impact of the adopted practices Monitoring river and ground water quality and assessing impact of the adopted practices

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Outputs and Impact Bio-gas digesters installed at 120 farms Manure storage facilities arranged at 310 farms Good agricultural practices adopted in 279 farms Individual nutrient management plans developed for 220 farmers Training in good management practices delivered to 2500 farmers Comprehensive water monitoring program put in place for three watersheds In three years the Ochkhomuri river water quality improved significantly to meet EU nitrate standard

11 Conclusions Focusing agricultural research on farmers’ needs and adapting it to the real rural life setting is a single window of opportunity for the national agricultural knowledge system Extension of advanced technologies to the subsistence, small and medium farmers is a challenging task, taking time and resources for demonstrating, carrying out participatory trails and building awareness Making tangible change in the quality of environment proved possible through concentration of external and local resources within a focus area Strong economic incentives are only viable tools for sustaining the present positive trend as well as for exporting it beyond the pilot area

12 Challenges for Scaling up EPC Program   Agricultural non-point sources of pollution have significant impact on water quality at present, with a potential to increase in future   Majority of Georgian farmers do not use environment friendly technologies and are unaware of damage to public health and environment made by their current farming practices   Georgia lacks adequate environmental regulations and economic policies to achieve compliance with EU Nitrate and Clean Water Directives

13 Strategy for Future Facilitate compliance with the obligations of EU membership  Develop adequate environmental regulations and create economic incentives  Set up a viable extension system to rejuvenate rural economy and develop export opportunities  Establish a reliable and affordable long-term water quality monitoring program  Seek opportunities for receiving support from GEF, EU, MCG, bilateral donors and other sources in carrying on the successfully piloted activities

14 Thank You