CARE’s Role in Development of Georgian Agriculture

CARE Globally:

Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading, global humanitarian organization fighting poverty

In 2012

•CARE worked in 84 countries

•Supported more than 997

projects

•Reached more than 83

million people

since early 90s CARE in the Caucasus –

Priority Directions of CARE’s Programme:

Program Goal: Rural Poverty, vulnerability and social

injustice in the South Caucasus decreased and conditions

for sustainable development improved, thereby

contributing to stability and peace in the region.

Domains of change:

Government

Civil Society

Conflict Prevention and Security

Market Linkages and Market Responsiveness

Agricultural Expertise and Current Activities:

Support to Primary Production and Processing;

Value chains;

Extension Services and On-farm demonstrations;

Input supply;

Machinery rings and Farmers cooperatives;

Access to Agricultural loans;

Greenhouses;

Policy influence and Advocacy work.

Geography of Agricultural support:

•Kvemo Kartli;

•Shida Kartli;

•Racha-Lechkhumi and

Lower Svaneti;

•Upper Svaneti;

•Upper Adjara.

•Samtskhe Javakheti

Samtskhe-

Javakheti;

Projects with Focus on Agriculture ’08-’13:

Stabilization and Integration of IDPs - (SIIMS) - Donor:

Norwegian MFA

Rural Development in Racha-Lechkhumi - Donor: SDC

Poverty Reduction in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo-Svaneti (COMBI) - Donor: EU/ADC

Enhancing Rural Livelihoods in the Adjacent Area (ERLA) - Donor: UNHCR

Farmers to Markets (FtM) - Donor: BP

Community Development Initiative (CIP) - Donor: BP

Sustainable Livelihoods and Regional Planning (SLAR) - Donor DFID

OVERALL contribution to

agriculture for last 5 years:

$ 6m

Key achievements

and breakthroughs:

Increased potato harvests by introducing new

seed varieties and technologies;

Increased yields in livestock, vegetable growing,

cereals production and beekeeping through

introducing new farming methods; Established

Sustainable farmers cooperatives;

Improved access to Agricultural Loans for small

farmers in partnership with Constanta;

Created sustainable model of Rural Advisory

Services;

Improved irrigation.

Highlights:

Irrigation channels improved harvests for up to

9,800 farming families;

27 farmer groups received ag. machinery valued at

1,2 mln. GEL;

110 on-farm demonstration plots organized and up

to 1,500 farmers participated in cross-visits and on-

site trainings;

Around 4,500 farmers received veterinary services

and consultations on new crop varieties and

cultivation and new farming practices;

Over 130 farmers received subsidized loans up to

163,000 USD to expand agricultural production.

2008-2013

Future focus/Recommended areas of work:

Support cooperation of farmers and commercialization

process of the small farms;

Ensure access to proper and inexpensive inputs and machinery

services;

Broad access to the extension services for the small farmers;

Value chain development and attracting investments to the

rural areas;

Access to the financial capital (affordable agricultural loans)

Proper statistical and market analysis in the regions.

THANK YOU!