Rusudan Pirtskhalava

The modern stage of society and economic development is characterized by a growing trend of water demand, which is becoming increasingly difficult to meet with available resources. Providing the population with clean, quality water resources and the acute shortage of fresh water already identified in the world is one of the global problems. Water resource is one of the main national treasures among the diverse natural resources of Georgia. With an average annual freshwater layer (810 mm) formed on the ground, Georgia ranks one of the first countries among the former Soviet republics, and in terms of renewable water resources, it ranks 87th among countries in the world. Georgia's water resources (Eastern Georgia's water supply is 10 billion m3, in Western Georgia - 50 billion m3) are widely used in all sectors of the country's economy. Water consumption is especially important for the needs of the population for drinking and irrigation of lands. The index of water resources utilization and exploitation (total annual water consumption (in percentage) of renewable fresh water compared to long-term average annual volumes) is low in the country and is only 4%, although the total annual average rate of fresh water use is increasing every year.

Land as a natural resource and factor of production, performs many functions. The term "land" - refers to an important part of the natural environment, which is represented by such concepts as space, relief, climate, soil cover, vegetation, minerals, water. It is the main means of production in agriculture and forestry, as well as the spatial basis for enterprises and organizations in the economic and social spheres.

           In Georgia, in the 90s of the 20th century, the need for a new type of land management arose in the transition to the principles of market relations.

           The unified system of land management in Soviet Georgia was established on the basis of state ownership of land. In the process of land reform, naturally, the task of upgrading the existing land management system has been set. As a result of the implementation of the reforms without the appropriate legal framework and organizational-governance mechanisms, new problems arose (the increase in number of owners, the fragmentation of land plots, the dominance of small family farms (small land), etc.). In fact, the existed system of land management has collapsed, and the new system has not even been created. Such a situation hinders the management of land resources. Therefore, one of the important tasks among the new challenges is to establish a land-based system that meets modern requirements. It primarily requires the definition of conceptual and methodological approaches.

Rational use of land resources - a determining factor in the country's food security

Food security is a significant part of national security. Therefore, food security in the first place is a state duty to provide country population with food products in both ordinary conditions and extreme situation (without regard to the existence of either internal or external threat), at a level necessary for human active and healthy life. 

           The given article does research into the dynamic of Georgias′ population change (1989-2020) and the share of rural population in the intive population. Also, the decrease tendency in sawn and hurvested areas (1990-2020) and alongside the reduction of agricultural products is considered in the article.

           In addition the data of animal husbandry production in 1990-2020 and flactuation in consumer prices have been considered here, as well. Article includes food balance sheets of wheat, potato, meat, also self-sufficiency ratios and average indices on food consumption.

           The quality of population nutrition determines the development level of country′s economy and social life. At the same time, food security is directly connected with environmental security. And the misuse of land resources causes the deterioration of ecological conditions in the country, lowers the growth rate of agricultural production and provides a background for manufacturing of raw materials and products contaminated by various toxic substances. Under the conditions of modern globalization, where countries′ economic and political relations are intertwined, food security attains the global problem status, and its solving becomes a strategic purpose for any state.

           This article considers the importance of rational use of land resources in Georgia for providing the country with food products. Factors forming the relationship of land (soil) use level and food security are demonstrated, and main directions for the increase of land use effectiveness are determined.

Doctoral Thesis Referee

Master Theses Supervisor

Doctoral Thesis Supervisor/Co-supervisor

Scientific editor of monographs in foreign languages

Scientific editor of a monograph in Georgian

Editor-in-Chief of a peer-reviewed or professional journal / proceedings

Review of a scientific professional journal / proceedings

Member of the editorial board of a peer-reviewed scientific or professional journal / proceedings

Participation in a project / grant funded by an international organization

Participation in a project / grant funded from the state budget

Patent authorship

Membership of the Georgian National Academy of Science or Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Membership of an international professional organization

Membership of the Conference Organizing / Program Committee

National Award / Sectoral Award, Order, Medal, etc.

Honorary title

Monograph

Handbook

Research articles in high impact factor and local Scientific Journals

Publication in Scientific Conference Proceedings Indexed in Web of Science and Scopus