Georgia

Economic Prosperity Initiative

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.

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 (FSCs) 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:

1. Strengthened Value Chain Competitiveness: EPI improved the competitiveness of mandarin, hazelnut and greenhouse and open-field vegetable value chains.
2. 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.
3. Built the Capacity of Processors: EPI improved operations and quality standards (GlobalGAP, ISO and HACCP), responding to international market demand.
4. Increased Farmer Access to Training: To provide “on-the-field” farmer training, EPI created Knowledge Plots (KP) and Knowledge Centers (KC).