The project representatives together with Kakhaber Janukashvili, head of the Kazbegi Farmers Information and Consultation Center at the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture, visited potato fileds in Sion and Sno villages. Based on the needs of region and the project goals, twenty-five communities have been selected in region, where filed days and practical exercises

The guideline for farmers on positive selection have been developed, adapted and published by the International Potato Center:

Introductory meeting was conducted for farmers’ consultation centers (MoEPA) in Kazbegi. Potato producer farmers also attended the meeting. The project goal and activities have been presented on the meeting as well as the main approaches of ISH (Integrated Seed health) in seed production farms and positive selection-select the best. The brochure on positive selection in

The scientists of the Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture (SRCA) at the ministry of environmental protection and agriculture (MoEPA), improved skills in positive selection, seed potato degeneration and yield modeling during trainings of trainers (ToT) provided by CIP international experts and professor form university BOKU in May, organized two-days training in bases of positive selection for

Three varieties of potato, introduced form International Potato Center (CIP) HQ, Lima Peru, registred in Georgia under local names (Javakheturi, Meskhuri and Meskhuri Tsiteli) have been planted in smallholder’s farm in Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, Kazbegi municipality, village Sioni. CIP together with local partnet Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture, MoEA, are cpnducting evaluation trials of 76 new varieties of

Evaluation of seed degeneration – potato protected  plot with installed insect nets, to avoided viruses’ transmission through aphids. PhD student is treating potato plot with insecticides.

International experts Jorje Andrade-Pidra, CIP, Gregory Forbes, independent expert and proff. Ahmad Manchadi, university BOKU, Austria visited Georgia to evaluate potato trials and conduct ToT on the following topics: Agricultural Production Systems simulator (APSIM); Understanding seed degeneration in potato. 2018, May 1-3 – the training courses has been reorganized for CIP partner institutions’ scientists at

Kazbegi Municipality (Positive Selection 2018) Locations № Village List Farmers Height of S/L (m.)  Coordinates Potato variety Area of sq.m. Stepantsminda 1 Stepantsminda Nunu Kushashvili 1820 42°39′38″ N  44°38′16″ E Jelly 100 2 Gela Kushashvili 1820 42°39′36″ N 44°38′19″ E Unknow 600 3 Ivane Jamarashvili 1820 42°39′36″ N 44°38′19″ E Unknow 200 4 Gergeti Lia

28.03.2018 – CIP met with representatives of LAG in Kazbegi (Local Action Group), created within ENPARD program to discuss future activities within ADA project.

27.03.2018 – CIP potato tub plants (tissue culture) transplanted into greenhouse from in vitro laboratory at CIP partner SRCA. Mini tubers will be produced at greenhouse for future multiplication at farmers’ farms.