“Enhancing mall farmer’s cooperatives’ productivity in Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi region", a project funded by ENPARD-Georgia, projects’ one of the implementing partner is Association of Young Economists of Georgia, with the duration of 01.02.2014-31.06.2017. The overall objective of the project is the reduction of rural poverty in Imereti and Racha. The project action targets semi-commercial small farmers as well as agribusiness and rural entrepreneurs in order to increase their productivity and income as members of business-oriented groups such as cooperatives and associations. Within the project, 23 agricultural cooperatives are established and funded, among them was cooperative “Kvitiri”

I first learn about the project after the establishment first cooperative in our village. We have had an idea to use a refrigeration facility for vegetables to sell them in high price, but we haven’t had enough financial recourses to realize it. This was the main motivation for us to participate in this project.

In our village herbs are considered as a very important culture of agriculture. At the beginning, we had two greenhouses were the herbs were grown. It was very successful business and we decided to take an agro loan and built six greenhouse for herbs farming. Over the last two years there is the crisis in Georgia’s herb market due to the Iranian market competition. Iranian herbs lowered the market price in Georgia, so we are trying to find alternative markets. Now we have the negotiations with Russia and Azerbaijan's factories to sell them our products. During the last year, totally we have 362 women employed in our agri-business.

Director of Cooperative

Goderdzi Shavgulidze