Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the EU-supported ENPARD programme, implemented the training module for farmers and rural producers in five different municipalities of Georgia. More than 70 participants studied basics of business, crop planning, record keeping and budgeting.

The trainings conducted by FAO’s experts took place in Lagodekhi, Akhmeta, Tetritskaro, Tsalka and Tskaltubo. Besides the farmers and producers, the representatives of Information and Consultation Centers (ICC) also attended the sessions. The main objective of the trainings was to help rural producers and farmers to focus on market and profitability potential before they take production initiatives. The main areas and topics covered during the trainings were target market selection and marketing standards, distribution channel identification and commercialization of harvest, the effect of seasonality on prices and sales, the importance of record-keeping and budgeting, the need for bookkeeping and budgeting to make production decisions, pricing decisions and to determine profitability and exploring production alternatives based on profitability results.

Interactive sessions included presentations, visual demonstrations, question and answer sessions and exercises for the participants based on real-life examples. Mr. Javier Sanz Alvarez, FAO Programme Coordinator, explained that the trainings are expected to result in increased revenues, better profitability and more effective utilization of resources by producers and that FAO under the EU-funded projects will continue to support Georgian farmers, rural producers and extension specialists to enhance their business and marketing skills.

The EU is supporting agriculture and rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 179.5 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in Georgia. The first phase of ENPARD in Georgia focused on developing the potential of agriculture. The second and third phases of ENPARD focus on creating economic opportunities for rural population that go beyond agricultural activities. More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge