Project "Increased Agricultural Practices and Consumer Awareness"

The project "Increased agricultural practices and consumer awareness" is carried out within the framework of the fourth phase (ENPARD IV) of the European Union "European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development" (ENPARD - Georgia), as well as by the financial support of the "Bread of the World" organization (Germany).

The project is implemented by a coalition, which includes the Association of Farmers of Georgia (the lead partner), the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia, and the Association of Farmers and Beekeepers of the Ambrolauri district of the mountainous regions of Georgia.

The project aims to:

1. To equip dairy and beekeeping supply chain parties (farmers, primary producers, other food business operators) with practical skills, knowledge and enhanced capacity to improve their business compliance with food safety and sanitary/phytosanitary norms;
2. Improved communication and participation of interested parties (public, retail trade, farmers/producers, laboratories, consumers) in the reform process envisaged by the agreement on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the European Union;
3. Raising awareness among consumers, civil society groups and the media about food safety regulatory requirements and consumer rights, to promote better informed consumers and informed purchasing decisions and increased demand for quality products.

The target regions of the project are: Kakheti, Imereti, Guria, Racha-Lechkhum-Kvemo Svaneti.

Within the framework of the project, CSRDG carries out the following main activities:

1. Monitoring and advocacy campaigns related to various problems in the field of food safety: specific issues will be selected, they will be studied and solutions will be found. Reports will be prepared, which will be discussed at public meetings. Implementation of the recommendations addressed to the authorities will be verified during the project. A total of 5 campaigns are planned.
2. Civic education and participation campaign in the field of food safety: various informative and educational materials will be prepared, public meetings will be organized in all municipal centers of the target regions, two seminars and a competition for media representatives will be held.

CSRDG has selected partner public organizations in the target regions, which participate in the implementation of all the above-mentioned activities, will help in collecting and disseminating information at the CSRDG locations and mobilizing the target groups.

In turn, CSRDG shares its knowledge and experience in the field of food safety with regional partner organizations, ensures that the problems identified on the ground are brought to the central government and the media, and coordinates the activities carried out by regional partners within the project.

At the end of the project, CSRDG will offer regional partners to join a coalition, which will support its members in cooperation, coordination and fundraising in the direction of consumer rights protection.