Berry Production – An Opportunity for Small Farmers

FROM THE REDACTION

On July 3, the USAID-supported AgVANTAGE export development project, in collaboration with the Chairman of the Georgian Berry Producers Association, Tamaz Niparishvili, hosted a Field Day to celebrate the establishment of a berry demonstration/production project in the Kaspi District.

The demonstration site was established in spring 2006 and showcases fourteen new varieties of five berry crops that are known for high yields, increased fruit size, and improved qualities. Selected cultivars of red raspberry, black raspberry, currant, gooseberry and thornless blackberry are included. Rooted plants were imported from the US and planted on a 2-hectare site with the guidance of a small fruits specialist from the USA. Although the plantings were in an early stage of development, interested persons attending the Field Day were be able to see and taste the first berries from the project to ripen under Georgian conditions. “In two-three years, when the plantings are fully mature, more will be learned regarding production potential, and informed recommendations can be made to interested Georgian farmers,” said AgVANTAGE small fruit specialist Richard Dale. Last year the AgVANTAGE project facilitated the establishment of similar sites in the Imereti region, Guria, and the Akhaltsikhe District, in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. There are also plans to establish an additional site this year in the Kakheti region.
Most small fruits have never been commercially grown in Georgia. The present primary production areas are located in the Kakheti, Imereti, Shida Kartli and Adjara regions, and the total commercial production area covers approximately 150 hectares. The berry varieties grown most frequently in Georgia are strawberries, red currants, raspberries and gooseberries. Nearly all of their production is sold on the domestic market. The higher quality berries supply the fresh fruit market while lower grade products are used for jams and sauces.
Before the new berry varieties were introduced in Georgia, a series of training courses were offered which sought to introduce farmers to the potential for new berry varieties, techniques for establishing plantations, best cultural practices, pest management and other related topics. One objective of this activity is to offer smallholder farmers, who have one or two hectares of available land, a high-value crop alternative and to demonstrate the benefits of improved varieties, production technologies, and practices. Berries are high-value labor-intensive crops that can provide profitable enterprise for small-scale producers. Even in the USA, many commercial berry farms successfully participating in the industry are small scale operations.
In an effort to further promote berry crop production among Georgian farmers, the AgVANTAGE project has encouraged the formation of a Georgian Berry Producers Association. The association, founded in 2006, brought together nine farmers from the Imereti, Shida Kartli, Guria, Kakheti and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions, and is open to including additional members from all parts of Georgia to share knowledge and experience. The services provided to the farmers include consultations, educational events, and marketing assistance. The long-term aim of the association is to elaborate a strategy for developing a sustainable commercial berry crop industry in Georgia.