“With unwavering determination and selfless dedication, anything becomes possible!”

-Nikoloz Kavlashvili, a cooperative “Bajikhevi”

Hello,

My name is Nikoloz Kavlashvili, and I come from the village of Zudali in the Oni region. By profession, I am an engineer, but currently, I am involved in animal husbandry, cattle breeding, and potato production. Today, I want to share my story about the journey toward environmentally friendly potato farming in Racha, which can be inspiring to other entrepreneurs like me.

In 2019, I learned about Project GRETA, a European Union, Sweden, and Austria joint initiative. The project's objectives immediately caught my attention, encouraging me to search for more information online. I discovered that the project's goals perfectly aligned with my aspirations. After discussing it with other cooperative members, I decided to participate in the grant competition and try my luck. The grant application guidelines were comprehensive, and we followed every step meticulously. Eventually, our efforts paid off as we won the grant competition, marking the beginning of our progress.

As you may know, the cultivation of soil and the use of appropriate equipment are essential for successful potato farming. With the donors' funding, we obtained a specialised tractor for land cultivation designed to navigate the challenging terrain of our region. Additionally, we received a cultivator, potato planter, and harvester. All of these acquisitions played a critical role in our work. Imagine the difference between manual and mechanised land preparation! Work became considerably more manageable, leading to increased harvest yields.

One of my most intriguing observations was that my fellow villagers and farmers from neighbouring villages rented equipment from me for their land cultivation. This also helps other villagers to boost production volume.

Our cooperative support doesn't end there. The assistance we received in terms of marketing was particularly crucial. It allowed us to establish business relationships on a domestic market scale. Consequently, we successfully introduced our products to one of the largest supermarket chains in Tbilisi. The experience we gained opened our eyes to new opportunities, and we have plans to distribute our potatoes to other extensive facilities as well. Equally important were the donor’s supported business management and marketing training sessions we received through the GRETA project. These programs helped us identify existing problems and equipped us with the knowledge to manage our activities more effectively.

Overall, I can confidently state that our harvest has tripled. Moreover, I won't hesitate to admit that before receiving donor’s support, we were in debt, whereby today, our enterprise stands on solid ground with future expansion and growth prospects.

This experience highlights the importance of determination and hard work in achieving results. Our entrepreneurs should fully embrace the support of our donors, such as the European Union, Sweden, and Austria. Ultimately, I am eager to explore new and exciting collaborations and can be reached via email at:  bajixevi@gmail.com 

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With the support of the European Union, Sweden and Austria, 68 small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the highland region of Georgia have received substantial assistance for their business development. 

Take advantage of the upcoming success stories, where incredibly fascinating people will share their experiences with us. 

Project GRETA | “Green Economy: Sustainable Mountain Tourism and Organic Agriculture” is implemented by the Austria Development Agency in Georgia with the support of the European Union, Austria, and Sweden. The project aims to improve the business environment and create new income opportunities in two important sectors of the Georgian economy, mountain tourism and organic agriculture. For more information about the GRETA project, please visit: www.gretaproject.ge.

This material has been produced with the assistance of the European Union, Sweden, and Austria, within the framework of the GRETA project.  Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Austrian Development Agency /GRETA Project and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, Sweden, or Austria.