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The project organized an experience exchange visit to FAO Georgia for four (4) Armenian officials and three (3) CARD specialists on 26-28 June 2019. FAO Georgia is currently implementing the programme “Technical Assistance to Support the Establishment of a National Animal Identification, Registration and Traceability System (NAITS) in Georgia” with funding from SDC and ADA. The overall objective of the trip was to gain experience and lessons from the NAITS programme, share and confront ideas, good practices and methods, discover new viewpoints and approaches for an animal identification and registration.
Georgia has a huge experience in AI&R system and has a husbandry sector with a major share of small household farms similar with Armenian ones. Georgia started implementation of the Animal Identification and Registration (AIR) System from 2012. Most components of the AI&R system, which were being implemented in Georgia, were considered valuable and relevant to the Armenian situation. The Armenian delegation found the experience of Georgia valuable and mostly transferable to Armenia.
The participants were MoE, deputy Minister Mr. Tigran Gabrielyan, MoE, lead specialist of veterinary department Ms. Tatevik Sargsyan, SFSI deputy head of the veterinary department Ms. Lilit Sargsyan, architecture of the ANI PAS system Mr. Mikayel Avagyan, CARD, Project CEO Mr. Gagik Sardaryan, Project manager Ms. Nazei Grigoryan, and Food safety and animal health specialist, Mr. Sergey Chakhmakhchyan.
The visitors from Armenia appreciated the presentations of the Georgian team. The Head of the Animal Identification and Registration Division of the National Food Agency of Georgia, Mr. Zviad Asanishvili, introduced the national animal identification and registration project to the group, the group was also introduced to the software used for the animal identification by the FAO Project Officer Mr. Dragan Angelovski, and promotional materials by the communication consultant of the project Mrs. Nino Topuridze. The National Team Leader of the project Mr. Mikheil Sokhadze shared the lessons learned.
The Armenian delegation found the experience of Georgia in the development and operation of the AIR system, which were being implemented in Georgia, were considered valuable and relevant to the Armenian situation. Finally, an important ingredient in the success of such a cross-national exchange visit is the relationships between all involved.
