MAKHACHKALA, June 12 – RIA Dagestan. The Russian Public Chamber held an off-site meeting in Makhachkala focused on supporting the GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems) program and encouraging rural and agro-tourism. Run by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, the program aims to preserve unique traditional agricultural systems. To date, more than 100 sites in 29 countries have obtained GIAHS status.
The event brought together representatives of the Public Chambers of Russia and Dagestan, FAO experts, deputies of the regional parliament and officials from government bodies and public chambers from several Russian regions. Shamil Dzhamalov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Dagestan, pointed out that the variety of the region's natural and climatic zones provides favorable conditions for producing eco-friendly and authentic goods.
According to him, obtaining international status will increase the recognition of Dagestan-made products, serve as an additional incentive for the development of agro-tourism, the preservation of rural areas, and the increase of incomes for rural residents.
Fedor Voytenkov, FAO consultant for the GIAHS program, briefed the participants on the mechanisms for granting the status and its importance for regions that maintain traditional farming practices.
Particular attention at the meeting was devoted to the ancient technique of producing traditional skin-bag cheese, which is preserved by the agricultural cooperative "Agrofirma Sogratl" in Gunibsky District. The head of the enterprise, Abdurakhman Churaev, presented this unique local practice to those in attendance and invited the guests to visit the farm, where the traditional technology is still in use today. It is precisely this technology that could become one of the first sites in Dagestan to seek recognition as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.