Konstantine Kobakhidze, Agriculture Project Management Specialist at USAID Georgia says, that the current USAID Agriculture Program partners with Government agencies and an array of private sector partners to increase production capacity, efficiency, and compliance with international standards of quality. Konstantine Kobakhidze talked about this while visiting TV-Program Frobes Week.
According to him, USAID targets agricultural value chains that show the most potential to generate revenues and create high-value jobs in rural Georgia, including the production and processing of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other horticulture products. USAID assistance enables producers and processors to add value through modern production, processing, storage, and distribution techniques, while building regional and international market linkages.
"USAID supported the establishment of the country’s first blueberry plots over 10 years ago. In 2015, blueberry exports barely reached $200,000. By 2022, they had reached $8.2 million, with the help of USAID assistance to identifying the right varieties and identifying buyers in high-value markets abroad.
Another example of our support would be the establishment of the country’s first anti-hail net facility, Agrobade, which we will celebrate along with our government partners next week. Anti-hail nets are the best technologies to protect their crops from losses due to severe weather and damage to future productivity. However, up until now, farmers had to import high-cost anti-hail nets from Italy and Turkey as there was no local manufacturer in Georgia. However, through a USAID innovation grant, Agrobade Ltd has made local production a reality through the establishment of the country’s first anti-hail net production facility", - Kobakhidze said.
USAID funds more than 35 + programs to protect Georgia's information space from misinformation, promote a democracy that protects the hard-fought rights of all of Georgia’s people through enhanced citizen responsive governance, and create prosperity and jobs for Georgia’s people so they can best support their families.
Initiatives stimulate economic growth, develop democratic institutions, enhance energy security, mitigate climate change, improve education, and foster the increased inclusion of minority and disadvantaged people in Georgia, including those living across ethnic and geographic boundaries. These goals are especially important given Georgia's strengthening relationship with the European Union (EU) following the 2014 Association Agreement.
