In July, CNFA launched the Akhaltsikhe Machinery Service Center, the first machinery service center funded by USAID’s Access to Mechanization Project (AMP). In addition to CNFA staff and the MSC’s owners, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by U.S. State Department Coordinator of Assistance to Europe and Eurasia Daniel Rosenblum, Regional Governor Samtskhe Javakheti, USAID local Mission, CNFA representatives, donor community and media representatives.

Laba+, a local enterprise, is the owner of the new Akhaltsikhe MSC, which will provide fee-based machinery services such as plowing, cultivation, planting, fertilizer/pesticide application and harvesting to local farmers. It currently boasts three new tractors, a new combine and twelve other agricultural implements. With more than 8,000 farmers in the Akhaltsikhe District producing mainly grains, potatoes and vegetables, plowing, these services are in high demand, giving the new MSC a built-in customer base. The Samtkhe Javakheti area is also home to a high concentration of ethnic Armenians, and this ethnic diversity is reflected in the service center’s employees and clients.

The Akhaltsikhe MSC has already created 12 new jobs and will provide services to improve production and harvest for more than 1,000 hectares of land. The Access to Mechanization Project, funded by the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program, is a two-year, is a $5.1 million initiative to facilitate the development of 30 privately-owned farm machinery service centers throughout Georgia that will increase access to farm machinery services for small-scale farmers. These service centers are expected to create up to 250 new jobs, provide services to 14,000 small-scale farmers and increase agricultural revenues by to $10 million.