A severe labor shortage and difficulties selling products through major retail chains are among the main challenges facing Georgia’s tea industry, according to Gela Garchagodashvili, founder of “Tea Martvili – Sadadiano.” The company, which has operated in Martvili since 2007, currently manages 120 hectares of tea plantations, with another 400 hectares reserved for rehabilitation.
Garchagodashvili said he has invested around $5 million in the business since 2007, but production has declined sharply due to the lack of workers. The company produced 500 tons of finished tea during the pandemic, compared with about 80 tons last year. This year, production is expected to fall below 20 tons, despite having 120 hectares under cultivation.
Daily wages for workers using small-scale mechanization range from GEL 150 to GEL 200. Manual picking costs GEL 3–5 per kilogram for regular tea, while the company pays up to GEL 25 per kilogram for premium white tea. Garchagodashvili said the company currently employs only 10–12 people across its plantations.
Access to major retail chains is another challenge, with the producer citing high fees, discounting practices and long payment periods. “Tea Martvili – Sadadiano” also exports to Austria, Germany, Poland and Lithuania, where it has a central warehouse. Premium tea is sold for around GEL 80 per kilogram for export.
