August 29, 2016 the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences celebrated a 80-year anniversary and 55- year pedagogic activity of academician Vazha Kvaliashvili a real member of GAAS. 

The members of the Academy greeted warmly the hero of anniversary, congratulated with the anniversary and wished a many year successful and fruitful scientific work, also long and peaceful life and prosperity. The speeches were delivered by the academicians who had witnessed his productive research and scientific activities, as well as pedagogic work for many years.  

On August 22, 2016, The Academy celebrated 80 years anniversary of Revaz Makharoblidze, a real member of the GAAS who has also served 55 years as a teacher, professor.

The Academy greeted warmly the  hero of anniversary, congratulated with the birthday and wished a many year successful and fruitful scientific work, also long and peaceful life and prosperity. 

On July 28, 2016,   a Round Table on: “Rehabilitation of Sericulture in Georgia, cooperation and raw material production” was held at Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

                 The President of the Academy, G. Aleksidze and academicians: O. Keshelashvili, N. Chkhartishvili, R. Makharoblidze, E. Shapakidze, Deputy President A. Giorgadze, Deputy Minister of Georgian Ministry of Agriculture, D. Galegashvili, and others participated in the discussion. Active part in the work of the Round Table also took researchers from Georgian Agrarian University, representatives of Khoni, Baghdadi, and Akhmeta regions, representatives of Georgian Patriarchy and Sericulture Corporation, General Director of “Saperavi – tv, - D. Kostariov.

 The Round Table was opened by a welcoming speech of GAAS , Acad. G. Aleksidze.

Member -Correspondent of the Academy G. Nikoleishvili spoke about the problems of renewal of traditions of sericulture production in Georgia.

A discussion was held around the role of BACS in restoration of sericulture in Georgia – Elguja Shapakidze, BACS’s coordinator in Georgia. Gene-fund and silk warm selection development perspectives were presented by N. Baramidze, a representative of Scientific- Research Center of Agriculture in Georgia. 

The invited guests presented the following issues: “The present day of sericulture in Khoni Region” (B. Bakhtadze);  “Current problems of Sericulture in Martvili region” ( Dr. M. Kvartskhava); “ Sericulture cooperative activities in Kharagauli region and future perspectives”  (Dr. M. Arjevanidze);  “Activities carried out by cooperative of Sericulture in Akhmeta region and  perspectives of development” ( N. Nakhutsrishvili).

   The representatives of “Georgian Fund of Regional Development and Cultural Heritage”- Ioane and Christina Bagrationi actively participated in the event. The Director of the Fund, Giorgi Ghenti mentioned that Georgian Patriarch Ilia II is an active supporter of restoration of sericulture in Georgia.

  Interesting viewpoint was stated by Jimi Chraidze who mentioned charity activities carried out by “Georgian Sericulture Corporation”, which imported 100 000 young mulberry trees and gave them to the farms as a present.  Also, regional centers of the Cooperation were set up with necessary technical equipment.

    Round Table participants proposed some interesting opinions,   such as, (a) to increase a number of  sericulture specialists in scientific- research center of the Ministry of Agriculture, which, along with scientific activities will actively support and monitor the sericulture restoring and  development process in the regions of Georgia. (b) to create an official Government document regarding restoration, rehabilitation and development strategy of sericulture in Georgia. (c) to address the Ministry of Economy with the request to confer the land plot of mulberry trees in Khoni to the regional Municipality ; (d)  to study sericulture market to free the producers from the existed problems of selling cocoon;  (e) to address the GAAS  to submit on time the project regarding investment in sericulture development in Vani region.   (f) To address corporations and funds to support the initiative in different ways; this will play an important role in successful development of the project.

In the end of the discussion, the participants of the Round Table adopted a proposal of Jimi Chkhaidze to organize regular training courses to raise qualification of specialists in sericulture.

The fruitful work carried out by the Round Table was summed up by D. Galegashvili, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and GAAS President G. Aleksidze. 

See video on link. 

Meetings in Azerbaijan on the problems of sericulture

     GAAS Academician E. Shapakidze visited city of Sheck, Azerbaijan, together with a group of investors regarding the subject of sericulture. He was accompanied by Giorgi Ghenti, Director of Georgian Fund of Regional Development and Cultural Heritage, and member of Association Menteshashvili.

The Association, an active supporter of restoration of sericulture in Georgia is directed by Ioane Batonishvili who received the blessing from Georgian Patriarch Ilia II for their activities.  

In Azerbaijan, the members of Georgian delegation met with the researchers and specialists of Scientific- Research Center of Sericulture and shared the experience of the colleagues. Also they visited a silk warm selection laboratory and sericulture technological complex and its product.

  The investors were given a good opportunity to learn in details modern technologies of silk thread production and updated methods of processing silk fabrics. Shapakidze, as a representative of BACSA in Georgia, studied the existed situation, so that Georgia should meet the VIII BACSA International Congress well-prepared which will be held in April in Sheck.

   A memorandum on partnership between Georgian Academy of Agriculture and Azerbaijan Scientific- research Center will be signed to support the restoration, rehabilitation and development of sericulture in Georgia.