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Oxfam Georgia Celebrates the International Mountain Day

Oxfam Georgia will present the initial findings of the EU-funded first National research on food security and Nutrition in Greater and Lesser Caucasus Range in Georgia

Oxfam Georgia and the Rural and Agricultural Policy and Development Institute (RAPDI) invite members of the press and the media to join the celebrations for the International Mountain Day on Friday 11 December 2015 at 16:00 at Betsy’s Hotel. During the event, Oxfam Georgia will release the initial research findings of the first nationwide study on food security and nutrition in Greater and Lesser Caucasus Range in Georgia. The research findings demonstrate current challenges as well as future opportunities for people living in the mountainous regions.

The presentation will be attended by the high officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and other governemental structures, as well as members of the civil society and international organisations who are working on food security and nutrition challenges in the highlands of Georgia.

The Study was carried out by the Rural and Agricultural Policy and Development Institute (RAPDI) within the frames of the EU-funded project “Improving regional Food Security through national strategies and Small Holder production in the South Caucasus” implemented by Oxfam in Armenia and Georgia. The study places special emphasis to the villages in the borderlines of Georgia.

The objectives of the Research are to study the Food Security and nutrition conditions in the high mountainous regions of Georgia and to evaluate the climate change risks from the perspective of food production and food accessibility. The research study covered 3 regions of Georgia bordering the Russian Federation, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Special emphasis were put on the villages located on the west of the Greater Caucasus range – Mestia and Oni Municipality; on the eastside villages of the Greater Caucasus range – Kazbegi, Dusheti and Akhmeta municipalities and the villages located in lesser Caucasus mountains – Aspindza, Adigeni, Akhalkalaki, Dmanisi, Khulo, Qeda and Shuakhevi. The duration of the Study was 8 months.

The International Mountain Day is celebrated since 2003, aiming to raise awareness on the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development, and to build alliances that will bring positive change to the mountain peoples and environments around the world.

Background:

In September 2013, Oxfam launched a 4-year EC-funded project titled Improving Regional Food Security through National Strategies and Small Holder Production in the South Caucasus . Central to the Project is the publication of gender sensitive food security and nutrition strategies in the three countries of the South Caucasus. The implementation of these strategies will lead to changes in attitudes on food security and nutrition, agricultural production practices and ultimately marketing due to an increased demand for healthy and locally produced food.