Agri-Management Group of Georgia LLC

Agri-Management Group of Georgia (AMGG) LLC, established in December 2018, is located in Eniseli village in the Kakheti region of Georgia. The area is well known for growing hazelnuts due to its fertile soil and amenable climate. Currently, the total hazelnut orchard area in these villages exceeds 4,000 hectares, and the average yield equals more than 4,000 tons, almost 7% of the country’s total production.

Dimitri Aleqsidze is the director of AMGG LLC, a graduate of Tbilisi State University and Paris University, an economist, and Jurisprudence specialist, with more than six years of experience in the hazelnut sector.

The total cost of the project is $340,000 and is jointly financed by the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA), covering 50% of costs; AgriGeorgia/Ferrero, with a grant of €50,000; USAID/G-HIP with the grant of $50,000, and other partners. It is a good example and showcase of the cooperation between the Georgian Government, donor programs, and private sectors.

The existence of this facility is very important to secure the quality of hazelnuts and, consequently, incomes of smallholder growers. Farmers can approach AMGG LLC and procure fee-based drying and/or storage services to reduce post-harvest losses and improve the quality of their harvest. This Husking, Drying, and Storage (HDS) facility is capable of drying 1,000 tons and storing up to 500 tons of hazelnut per year.

Investment

• Program ($50,000): Procurement of 95 hp tractor and 2 t/h capacity hazelnut cleaning machine, procurement of electric pallet stacker, and procurement of safety equipment.
• AgriGeorgia/Ferrero (€50,000): Construction of the HDS facility.
• Partner Co-Investment ($234,500): Procurement of construction materials, construction of 750 square meters building, and procurement of drying equipment.

Impact

• 16 new jobs created, including 2 jobs for women.
• At least 300 farmers benefitting from services provided by HDS facility.
• GEL 240,000 in sales achieved during the first year of project implementation.