October 28, 2010
Georgia
Land reform in Georgia caused fragmentation of agricultural plots and minimalized the "selling power“ of small peasants.
Project called "Enhance effectiveness of small peasant’s economy in Georgia" is focusing on the support of small peasants in two regions of Georgia – Samtskhe/Javakheti and Guria. Land reform in Georgia caused fragmentation of agricultural plots and minimalized the "selling power“ of small peasants. The post-soviet period in Georgia resulted in technology obsolescence and attenuation of modernization and investments. Agricultural regions suffer from high unemployment rate and a serious lack of funds which are essential for development and functioning of small – mainly agricultural – business activities.
Caritas Czech Republic implements its project activities together in cooperation with Georgian partners ABCO – "Association of Business Consulting Organizations of Georgia“ and GABC – "Guria Agribusiness Center“. The project has a strong emphasis on capacity-building of farmers in vocational and economic areas as well as on modernization and/or deliveries of new agricultural technologies. Another characteristic feature involves the active participation of the target group in the project activities. Enormous emphasis is put on sustainability of the project; the goal is to start up business activities with ambition of further development in the future without the presence of an international donor. The long-term desired impact of the project is the improvement of the living standard of local inhabitants, which is closely connected with sustainable livelihoods and long-term employment.
In both regions the project activities have recently advanced significantly: in Samtskhe/Javakheti there two co-operative units were founded – its members took part in trainings, they created a business plan for their activities and their units were equipped with production facilities. In Guria, the co-operative Agroproduct has more than 200 members and currently it is one of the biggest agriculture co-operatives in Georgia. Within the framework of the project the co-operative has received fairly large support in the field of investments and capacity building.
In practice the small peasants united in smaller or bigger co-operatives deal with growing citruses, kiwi, churma, hazel-nuts, green and black tea, honey production, processing of fruits by drying and another processing methods in Guria. In the Samtskhe/Javakheti region, groups of farmers are involved in cheese and marmalade production, in growing potatoes, cereals etc.
Aside from direct support and cooperation with small peasants the project has an goal to create a general tool or a model for support of economically sustainable activities, which can be further replicated in other regions of Georgia. In 2009 there was noted an interest in the model of co-operatives and knowledge sharing from other non-governmental organizations implementing livelihood projects as well as from representatives of local administration.
Caritas Czech Republic has implemented the project in cooperation with Caritas Georgia and organizations ABCO and GABC from October 2008 until December 2010. The project is funded from the sources of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Development Cooperation & Humanitarian Aid Department within the program of Czech Republic’s Development Cooperation.
