October 20, 2010
Georgia
Aladasturi, Tchkaveri, Ailti, Klardjuli or Kakutura are different types of vineyards that can be found in Guria – a West South region of Georgia, that is known for strong black tea. Kiwi, honey, chestnut and forest fruit are very common here too. An economical forum that took place on October 10–11, Guria region, was aimed to put together agro business investors and possibly start new international cooperation.
The Agroproduct cooperative was established in 2008 by Guria Agribusiness Center and Caritas Czech Republic within the project “Enhancing the effectiveness of small peasants economy in Georgia” with the aim to help local farmers and their agribusiness in the region.
"It‘s not like in Soviet time, to be part of cooperative now, means mainly to raise our sale," express one of its member, Mr Akaki Glonti whose business is focused on fruit production. He also gets a certificate for BIO production.
Currently the Cooperative has 250 members and is one of the biggest in Georgia. The concept of cooperatives is based on common goals and mutual trust among farmers, their capacity building and added value in the form of commodity processing.
Thanks to the agriculture base, members get better opportunities to store their products until the time that it’s profitable to sell them in the market. Further, membership in the Cooperative gives farmers an opportunity to use new technology to farmers, raise their professional skills through training that is organized for them and to get ahead to international market.
Let’s have an example: annually, Akaki harvests two tons of fresh kiwi. In November he can sell the fruit for 0.80 lari (GEL) per kilogram, but in February he would get three times more for the same amount, but of course, it's impossible to keep the fruit fresh naturally. Thanks to a huge refrigerator that is situated in the agriculture base, products can be kept fresh and be sold in the market when the prices there get higher.
Economical forum, recently carried out in the Guria region, was aimed at putting together different agribusiness partners, presenting Guria products and opening new opportunities for international cooperation. An agreement with an Indian company for delivery of 150 tonnes of kiwi was closed there and other opportunities are waiting: “At Moldova’s market there is lack of citrus fruit and Georgia tea is well know all around the Eastern Europe", said Viorel Gherciu, director of Prorural Invest, a non–governmental organization that supports small and medium businesses in rural areas of the Republic of Moldova.
Akaki is a creative person. He knows that citrus fruit - feijoa is welcome at international market, but to keep the fruit fresh is rather difficult. “Thus, I made jam from feijoa that might be easily transported It is tasty and not expensive”, adds the best farmer of Georgia, awarded in 2007 and 2008.
The model of a cooperative is functioning in Samtskhe/Javakheti, the region of Georgia close to the border with Armenia. Here, Caritas Czech Republic along with the Association of Business Consulting Organizations and Caritas Georgia opened jam and cheese production. The Achalciche Fruit and Milk Processor’s Association was then established to support local farmers in their business.
The concept of cooperatives seems to achieve sustainable process - one of the crucial points for development programs. European Delegation in Georgia is going to evaluate the project soon and it yields positive results, the model of a cooperative will serve as an example of the best practice.
