EU and CzDA Helping Georgian Farmers to Connect with leading Hypermarkets in Georgia

On June 21, 2019 at hotel “Hotels and Preference Hualing Tbilisi” Bridge Innovation and Development (BRIDGE) and International Organization People in Need (PIN) organized Georgian Farmers’ Congress within the framework of the EU funded programme “Civil Society Organizations Supporting Free Trade with European Union”.

At the congress opening speeches were delivered by Cristina Casella, Delegation of the European Union to Georgia; Keti Getiashvili, BRIDGE; Giorgi Khanishvili, Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) and Ondrej Nadvorni, People in Need

“Starting from 2014, BRIDGE - Innovation and Development annually organizing Georgian Farmers' Congress that is a powerful platform for farmers to have a permanent dialogue with the interested parties, such as government, private sector, and civil society. At today’s Congress, the farmers talked about one of the most important problems, that is access to the local market. The event was very important for the Georgian farmers as they were provided with the opportunity to offer their products to the leading Hypermarkets in Georgia that could bring mutual benefits. The event was successful, as we made another step to strengthen ties between farmers and leading local producers,” said Keti Getiashvili Bridge Innovation and Development.

The farmers of agricultural cooperatives from the regions of Georgia attended the congress. The representatives of the Parliament, Governmental and Non-Governmental sectors, International Organizations and Professional Associations were also among the guests of the Congress.

The main goal of the Congress was to support dialogue between farmers, state bodies and private sector, that is one of the prerequisites for the development of agriculture sector. Participants discussed the challenges farmers face in the process of selling their products on the local market as well as during production. Congress also gave a chance to the smallholder farmers to share and establish new contacts for future collaboration.

Georgian Farmers’ Congress represents a unique platform, which fosters approximation of decision-making structures with farmers and ensures dialogue between stakeholders.

Background: The project is part of the EU assistance aimed at strengthening capacities of Civil Society Organizations located in Georgian rural regions, and supports the integration of Georgia into the EU market