Economic Prosperity Initiative
Georgia
Overview
The four-year (2010-2015), $4 million Economic Prosperity Initiative (EPI), funded by USAID, improved enterprise and competitiveness at the industry and country level in Georgia. Working under contract with Deloitte, CNFA implemented activities with a specific emphasis on mandarins, hazelnuts, and greenhouse and open-field vegetables. EPI provided technical assistance to enterprises, facilitating trade by creating market linkages between producers and buyers and assisting in strengthening agricultural policy.
Impact
- 46 farmer groups established in the hazelnut and mandarin sectors with 1,142 active members
- 8,459 farmers trained on agricultural productivity with a 70-75% technology adoption rate. The estimated incremental productivity increase ranges between 25-30% and results in more than an estimated $17 million in additional sales or import substitution
- 84 agricultural service providers built
- 209 greenhouse operators, educational institutions, investors, and other stakeholders trained, as well as 54 agronomists of partner Farm Service Center
EPI selected hazelnuts, mandarin oranges, and several greenhouse vegetables as the focus value chains of its programming. These value chains were targeted for technical assistance, training, study tours, and grants. CNFA focused specifically on improving the competitiveness of targeted agricultural sectors, working at all points along targeted value chains with agriculture traders, distributors, and buyers, creating access to market information and joining financial institutions and export buyers.
EPI built upon CNFA’s existing network of 60 Farm Service Centers and Machinery Service Centers in Georgia, which served as delivery points for extension, outreach, and advocacy. EPI used CNFA’s work with Georgian processors (GlobalGAP, ISO, and HACCP) to improve operations and quality standards, enabling them to better respond to international market demand.
Approach
- Strengthened Value Chain Competitiveness: EPI improved the competitiveness of mandarin, hazelnut, and greenhouse and open-field vegetable value chains.
- Improved Access to Inputs and Extension Services: The initiative leveraged existing farm and machinery service centers to serve as delivery points for extension, outreach, and advocacy.
- Built the Capacity of Processors: EPI improved operations and quality standards (GlobalGAP, ISO, and HACCP), responding to international market demand.
- Increased Farmer Access to Training: To provide “on-the-field” farmer training, EPI created Knowledge Plots (KP) and Knowledge Centers (KC).
