Problems of Development of Infrastructure of Medicinal Plants production in Georgia

Editorial staff:

Nodar Svanidze

Udo Hirsch

Davit Khobelava

Buba Jafarli

Mikheil Khoshtaria

Gogi Topadze

Marina Molodini

Koba Buchukuri

Nodar Chitanava

Jambul Bakuradze

Kakha Sakandelidze

Malkhaz Chinchilakashvili

Vladimer Chavchanidze

Kiazo Nadareishvili

Marat Tsitskishvili

Giorgi Iordanishvili

Marina Nikolaishvili

Giorgi Ormotsadze

Ushangi Kurashvili

Vakhtang Tevdoradze

Nino Mamukelashvili

Bezhan Sharashidze

Goderdzi Goderdzishvili

Gia Zhorzholiani

Tatiana Givishvili

Mariam Chabashvili

Amiran Tsakadze

Temur Gujabidze

Zaal Lomsianidze

Ioseb Gogodze

Merab Uridia

Nugzar Veliashvili

Tamaz Kaladze

Tengiz Maisuradze

Lado Gulashvili

Vladimer Chavchanidze

Givi Tsintsadze

Tsotne mirtskhulava

Otar Natishvili

Leonide Gabunia

Tamar Dekanosidze

Maia Tsintsadze

Ramaz Gakhokidze

Zaur Tsikhelashvili

Zurab Gasitashvili

Karine Kvinikhidze

Nikoloz Enukidze

Oleg Gogolini

Robert Bablidze

Slava Gogoberishvili

Guram Tsikhelashvili

Levan shengelia

From the Author

By preparing and publishing of this collection of articles begins the new program of the NGO “Institute of  Medical Plants” - “Establishment of main infrastructure of production of  medical plants in Georgia”. The program is funded with resources of USAID in the framework of the Eurasian foundation grant. Consulting support is carried out by ACDI/ VOCA (resources of USAID ) together with GEPA, BESO (British Executive Service Overseas) - TACIS program (United Kingdom).

This program is the logical extension of the program funded in the framework of Eurasia foundation grant (resources of USAID ) and accomplished in 1996 - 1997 years. One of the results of which was founding of our NGO -  “Association of  producers of medical plants, pharmacists and ecologists” (”Institute of  Medical Plants”) (see the “presentation” article).

Ideas and concepts that are presented in this collection were thought of during 5 years. Many experts and farmers have taken part in the process (they are so numerous, that we refrain from listing them). Continuously consulted us and acted as opponent to us, Ms. Keti Bakradze, coordinator of the program of the Eurasia Foundation. Her share is great in development of the production of medical plants in Georgia.

We received permanent support and valuable consultations from Mr. Davit Khobelava, Director of “Martin - Bauer – Herba”, team of CARE program farmers and their leader Mr. Buba Jafarli, Mr. Bezhan Sharashidze, director of the former department of the foreign debts of the Ministry of Finances, Mr. Gia  Zhorzholiani, Head of the department of ecological expertise of the Ministry of Ecology, Mr. Mikheil Khoshtaria, president of the International Alliance  of  Independent journalists, and many others.

We appreciate greatly consultations of Ms. Eteri Kemertelidze, director of the Institute of Pharmacochemistry, Academician of the Georgian Academy of Sciences. Advice given from her professional height and academic depth was very valuable for us.

We are grateful to American experts, Mr. Lorence Aivazian and Mr. Michael Klayton, who, from the very beginning, guided our endeavor to the right direction. We must acknowledge the role of the London correspondent of BBC Mr. Stephen Mulvey. Through his broadcast in English language, dedicated to our NGO, we acquired many friends in England as well as in USA.  The main source of our resources is USAID. The author is well acquainted with the great work USA and USAID are carrying out in Georgia and she believes that society must be informed better about their role. By this viewpoint, our member farmers are well acknowledged. We won’t be mistaken, if we express their sincere gratitude to the government of the USA and USAID.

In this collection, only few fragments about the development of infrastructure of medical plants are published in English. We are afraid, that readers who understand only English language may obtain false notion, that this work is assortment of fragments. Georgian readers certainly won’t form such an opinion. We understand that some readers may observe only particular articles, interesting for them, so we repeat sometimes specific ideas in different articles.

Lali Dateshidze.

The Chairman of the Directors' board, NGO “Institute of  Medical Plants".