Economic and legal challenges of Georgia's irrigation system

Abstract

In Georgia, as an agrarian country, irrigation has been a central focus since ancient times, as it was considered a primary source of the population’s well-being. Irrigation systems in Georgia water nearly half a million hectares of agricultural land. The expansion of irrigated areas forms the basis for increased agricultural production, which, in turn, serves as a prerequisite for restoring Georgia’s position as an exporting country. One of the main objectives of the country's economic development is the rehabilitation, modernization, and technical improvement of irrigation systems to increase soil fertility and crop yields and the technological and organizational enhancement of their effective operation. The development of the Law of Georgia On Water Users' Organizations ensured the legal regulation of irrigation systems. Since 2020, the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) has taken on new responsibilities, namely adopting normative acts to regulate irrigation systems. This paper discusses the challenges of Georgia's melioration (land improvement) system, the legal and economic aspects of ongoing reforms in the irrigation sector, and the legal grounds for imposing administrative responsibility within the irrigation sector. The establishment of an accessible, reliable, and stable irrigation system in Georgia will strengthen the country’s economy..