Georgia to host National Agrarian Olympiad promoting employment in field

Georgia will host the second National Agrarian Olympiad this year to promote non-formal education and employment in the sector, the Agriculture Ministry announced on Friday. 

Seeking to promote agriculture professions and raise awareness about the field among young people, the tournament will consist of three stages, with tests used to reveal winners. 

The target groups for the tournament are as followed: 

• Specialists with higher or professional education in agriculture
• Students of agrarian universities and vocational institutions
• Farmers involved in agricultural activities with sufficient knowledge and experience
• Students aged 14-18 and studying in both specialised colleges and public and private schools

The Ministry also announced changes to rules of the tournament, including reduction of the number of the test questions from 90 to 60, for the second edition. 

Winners will be announced in four categories - among farmers, specialists, students and school students, with three winners in each category. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge

Held under the auspices of the Ministry, the organisers of the contest include the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Austrian Development Agency, the Agriculture Programme of the United States Agency for International Development and the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network. 

During the opening ceremony of the tournament earlier today, Otar Shamugia, the Agriculture Minister, said the contest would contribute to increasing interest in agrarian education, involve more people in agriculture and develop the sector in general. 

FAO representative to Georgia, Mamuka Meskhi, noted the tournament would allow authorities and the organisers to present and encourage people with knowledge and qualifications in the field of agriculture and to maximise the popularisation of agricultural education among youth.