Over the past three years, more than 600 farmers received community or individual support under the FAO and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) project. The project was implemented in Shida Kartli, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions, aiming to develop rural communities, strengthen the commercial activities of the rural population, increase incomes and empower rural women. With the help of these matching support schemes the locals were able to solve the problems of drinking or irrigation water, equip an outpatient clinic and a school with necessary equipment, as well as expand their businesses in the poultry, beekeeping, dairy, and other agricultural sectors.
The Agriculture and Rural Development Project in Georgia has been implemented since 2018 for the development of the target communities (Shida Kartli region - Ateni and Plevi, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region - Tvishi and Sori). It supports the communities as well as individuals to strengthen their capacities and prompt their active involvement in the local development. The individual and community support schemes funding under the project amounted GEL1 million and it financed almost a third of the family farms in the target communities - 411 out of 1694 households.
Residents of the target communities formed local initiative groups and, based on participatory principles, they developed community development plans that covered the community's basic socio-economic needs and development vision. FAO, with the financial support of ADC, as well as with the involvement of the local population and municipalities, made various investments in the priority areas highlighted in these plans.
Vasil Lotishvili is one of the 104 farmers who received an individual support under the project. Once he left village of Ateni and moved to Tbilisi to find a job to keep his multi-children family. But as it turned out to be fruitless, Vasil decided to return to his village and set up a poultry farm. He is one of FAO Agriculture and Rural Development Project beneficiaries. By starting a new business, his long-held wishes came true: now he produces a healthy product and lives in his native village.
"I had a problem in buying such natural products, as eggs, chicken for my large family. Initially, I started with 40-50 chickens just to feed my family. Then I addressed to FAO for support. They helped me to expand my farm and now I have 650-700 chicken. The support was 75%, with 25% co-financing. Everything that you can see here: materials, aviaries, reservoirs, pipes – I purchased with the help of FAO," said Vasil and pointed to the green structures, "My goal is to produce natural products not only for my family but for all buyers."
Within the framework of the same project and with the participation of the local initiative groups the community support schemes were also implemented in Shida Kartli, Racha-Lechkhumi, and Kvemo Svaneti regions. For example, scientific laboratories were arranged at school in the village of Tkotsa in Khashuri Municipality. Today, students enjoy anatomy, biology, physics, and chemistry lessons, as they already have materials and tubes for testing.
“Arrangement of laboratories at school was my dream. Now the motivation among the students for these subjects has increased," said Liana Lomidze, the school principal. She highlighted the importance of such equipment for rural development: "It is now the 21st century. Modern life requires to meet different needs. If the students do not see relevant conditions at school, they will leave the school. Laboratories and other activities that are carried out at the school ..., I think, the schools are a kind of factor in maintaining and strengthening the rural population in the village. A strong school means a strong village, and the village will not be strong if people do not live there. "
Totally, 10 community support projects, amounting up to GEL 200,000 were awarded to four communities. Funding was spent on the arrangement of water or irrigation systems in the villages, equipping a school football team, or other needs that were different but tailored to different communities to support the development of agriculture and rural life. Individual support schemes were developed on a similar principle, with a total budget of approximately GEL 800,000 in 2018-2021.
"While working on rural development, it is important to ensure the involvement of local residents in the process so that our steps meet both common and individual needs of the local population," said Beka Dzadzamia, project manager. "2021 was difficult because of the pandemic. However, despite many challenges, together we have managed to meet the needs and support development of these particular communities."
As of now, the fourth phase of support schemes is underway. Agriculture and Rural Development Project in Georgia will last until the end of 2022.
