Switzerland and UNDP empower Georgian farmers with knowledge, tools, and opportunities to thrive
Cultivating Success
January 24, 2025

To the world, it’s Georgia; to its people, it’s Sakartvelo. The difference lies in history. One theory traces back to ancient Greece, where Georgians were known as “georgos” (γεωργός) – tillers of the land, reflecting their deep connection to agriculture and the earth.
Agriculture has shaped the Georgian identity for millennia, beginning 8,000 years ago when early inhabitants of this fertile land began cultivating vineyards and producing wine. Long before Georgia’s winemaking earned UNESCO Heritage status in 2013, it became a lifeline for generations, preserving livelihoods through invasions and wars. Even in the darkest times, Georgians returned to their burned vineyards, revived the grapevines, and rebuilt their lives from the soil up.
Agriculture remains the backbone of rural life in Georgia, where nearly 40 percent of the population relies on farming for income and sustenance. Yet, its relative economic significance has waned, contributing less than 7 percent to the national GDP—a notable drop from 9.5 percent in 2020 and 11 percent in 2011 (Source: GEOSTAT). Farmers face persistent challenges, including low productivity, outdated methods, and mounting environmental pressures. Most are smallholders practicing subsistence farming, with limited access to the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to succeed.
To address these pressing issues, Georgia, with support from international partners such as the European Union, Switzerland, and UNDP, has embraced transformative reforms. Since 2017, these efforts have prioritized sustainable rural development and modern education for farming communities.
One cornerstone of this transformation is advancing vocational education and training in agriculture (A-VET). UNDP and Switzerland have focused on aligning agricultural skills with market demands, promoting public-private partnerships, and fostering entrepreneurship. These initiatives span six vocational colleges and ten state-run farmers’ consultation centres across the country, directly benefiting up to 15,000 farmers and 2,500 A-VET graduates.
Agricultural extension services—informal, personalized guidance for smallholder farmers—play a critical role in these reforms. By helping farmers adopt modern practices, improve productivity, and connect to markets, these services are a game-changer for rural communities.
In partnership with Georgia’s Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Rural Development Agency, and local training centres, UNDP and Switzerland helped establish a robust network of agricultural extension services. By 2024, Georgia boasted nine regional and 45 municipal Information and Consultation Centres, staffed by 450 skilled professionals offering expert advice on crops, livestock, water management, pest control, and environmental protection.
This growing network is revitalising agriculture in Georgia, empowering farmers to innovate, ensuring sustainability, and breathing new life into an ancient trade.

Blueberry Horizons
Iana Emukhvari, an experienced extensionist from Georgia’s Samegrelo region, is dedicated to opening new development pathways for local farmers. With a background in biology and a decade-long experience in agricultural extension, she recognizes the potential of Samegrelo’s warm, humid climate and rich acidic soils to transform the region into a farming paradise, brimming with diverse crops and limitless innovation possibilities.
“I believe in Samegrelo's agricultural future. Its unique climate is ideal for thriving crops like citrus, hazelnuts, berries, and bay leaves, while also offering opportunities to introduce and develop new ones. Blueberries are a perfect example, a relatively new crop for Georgia that local farmers have successfully adopted,” says Iana.
Iana’s working days are busy with group training for farmers, visits to farming plots, face-to-face consultations, and continuous professional development, often supported by international experts.
"We must stay ahead with the latest agricultural technologies to effectively share knowledge with local farmers. Retraining, study visits, and international experience-sharing are essential. Both extensionists and farmers should have access to global best practices to drive progress."
Alex Antoniuk is one of the best blueberry farmers in the region Iana supports. His fast-growing agricultural enterprise produces 20 to 40 tonnes of high-quality blueberries annually, creating jobs for around 100 local villagers, mostly women, during harvest.
Alex is confident that his premium produce best fits European markets and is working to acquire the GlobalG.A.P. certification for safe and responsible farming practices to begin exporting.
“I choose the European market for its stability and profits. Our farm is on track with almost 25 percent of the GlobalG.A.P. certification standards, but there’s still a lot to do to get there,” he explains.
Agricultural extension services have been a lifeline for Alex, giving him access to essential knowledge and modern technology – resources he lacked when starting his enterprise. Early on, he faced a near disaster when two blueberry varieties proved unsuitable for western Georgia’s climate. Though his farm survived the crisis, the experience made Alex appreciate the importance of timely agricultural expertise and guidance.
“Extension service workers are doing an excellent job! They stand by our side, treating our work as their own. Iana’s attitude and engagement make her my trusted business partner.”

Growing Partnerships
Nino Kvateladze knows every one of the 1,000 farmers across the 39 villages of Khoni Municipality. As a dedicated extensionist with the Imereti Regional Service Centre of Georgia’s Rural Development Agency, she supports local farming communities in areas like livestock management, tea and berry cultivation, pest control, and disease prevention.
Nino embodies a new generation of agricultural extension workers, driven by her belief in the power of partnership and cooperation among farmers to access knowledge and expertise.
“We organize Field Days to bring farmers together and share new practices. When someone tries a new crop variety, we invite others to learn from their experience. These events are incredibly valuable,” Nino explains.
Despite concerns about the shortage of agricultural professionals in western Georgia, Nino is optimistic. She takes heart in the growing number of young people enrolling in vocational colleges to pursue careers in agriculture.
“It’s inspiring to see young people excel as agricultural professionals. I know several from our municipality who have continued in agriculture after their studies. Their skills are so advanced that they now consult major companies on farming,” she says.

Learning Never Stops
Three decades ago, Tamar Mikautadze-Elbakidze was teaching ecology at the Georgian State Institute for Subtropical Agriculture in Sukhumi. The violent conflict of the 1990s led to her displacement – from Abkhazia to the Imereti region, and a career shift – from academia to hands-on work with ‘Abkhazintercort’, one of Georgia’s leading civil society organizations focused on supporting displaced communities and rural populations.
Tamar’s expertise has opened new opportunities for countless farmers in western Georgia, helping them diversify their activities, embrace new techniques, and become successful entrepreneurs. Much of this work has been supported by UNDP and Switzerland as part of a broader effort to foster vocational education and training in agriculture.
"With funding from UNDP and Switzerland, we launched grant programmes to support highland farmers. Since 2021, up to 30 local projects have been funded, focusing on environment-friendly farming, endemic crops, green rural production, and innovative agricultural entrepreneurship. The results are inspiring!”
Tamar is proud that local farmers’ success in recent years has encouraged many young people to choose agriculture as a professional career and invest their efforts in ambitious and innovative farming projects.
“My advice to students and youth: build your future where your roots run deep—right in your home regions.”

Successful Farmer, Successful Village
“Our goal as extensionists is to improve the lives of people in rural areas, reignite their passion for agriculture, and help them boost their incomes,” says Roman Zakariadze, an extensionist at the Guria Regional Service Centre of Georgia’s Rural Development Agency.
With a university degree in agronomy and plant protection, coupled with teaching experience at Georgia’s leading vocational school, Horizonti, Roman is an invaluable mentor for local farmers. His mission is clear: help farmers adopt climate-smart practices, access funding opportunities, and build thriving businesses.
“We use portable field devices to analyze soil structure directly in fields and greenhouses, enabling farmers to plan their work more effectively. We measure the sugar content of crops to determine the optimal harvest time, and we use special magnifying glasses to diagnose plant diseases early and detect pests,” Roman explains.
“Modern technologies are indispensable, but extensionists need better access to these advanced tools to support farmers.”
Roman firmly believes climate-smart and energy-efficient farming is key to overcoming challenges, such as erratic weather patterns and plant diseases. He emphasizes that equipping agricultural professionals with knowledge and expertise is vital to achieving success in the sector.
“Vocational schools should be the cornerstone of our country's development. It’s encouraging to see more young people showing interest in agriculture. However, we still face a shortage of skilled professionals, and bridging this gap is essential,” Roman concludes.

A professional extension service has been a game-changer for many small farming enterprises in Guria, including a lettuce greenhouse owned by Mako Benidze. A startup farmer, Mako left the bustling streets of Tbilisi nine years ago to embrace the tranquillity of western Georgia’s green hills.
“When you live in the countryside, you should try everything and see what works best. On my 400 square metres of land, I experimented with cattle raising, poultry farming, and rocket growing. None of these ventures took off, but the experience shaped me as an entrepreneur and helped me discover my true passion,” Mako shares.
Determined to succeed, Mako sought guidance from the Chokhatauri Information and Consultation Center in May 2024. Operated by the Rural Development Agency (RDA), the centre introduced her to state funding opportunities for small farmers and extension services supported by UNDP and Switzerland.
With GEL27,000 (approximately, US$10,000) in funding from the RDA and expert advice from an extension specialist, Mako launched an agricultural business poised for success. That year, her greenhouse yielded an impressive 400 kilograms of lettuce. Eager to diversify, Mako is also cultivating basil and bell peppers, carefully selecting the most productive crops.
“Starting a greenhouse was no easy task, but the expert guidance from local extensionists made it achievable. They offered a perfect blend of theoretical knowledge and practical advice—a winning formula for success.”
While Mako continues experimenting to find the farming project that suits her best, her lettuce greenhouse has become a solid foundation for a sustainable business and a steady income for her family.
Background Information:
With US$4.5 million in funding from Switzerland, UNDP drives educational reforms in Georgia strengthening Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture (A-VET). By aligning skills with market demands and fostering entrepreneurship, this initiative promotes two pillars of sustainable rural development: public-private partnerships and agricultural extension services.
Disclaimer:
This story has been produced with support from UNDP and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC). Its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of UNDP and SDC.