Agribusiness Resembles Scientific Endeavor, Demands Constant Evolution," Says Leo Akhvlediani

Leo Akhvlediani, a modern farmer with a lineage rooted in agriculture, has been actively involved in farming for over a decade. He finds the continuous evolution inherent in agribusiness akin to scientific research. "Farming is a personal challenge that constantly pushes you to acquire new skills," he asserts.

Akhvlediani cultivates corn in the village of Sartichala, collaborating with a South African partner who also comes from a lineage of successful farmers. "Our partnership is quite unique. We've blended African expertise with Georgian practices, which has proven successful," he explains. This fusion of experiences from two continents has resulted in the production of high-quality corn in large quantities in Georgia.

Akhvlediani's approach to farming includes conducting experiments. He dedicates trial fields to testing new corn varieties each year, learning their traits, and applying this knowledge to enhance his crop yields. "A modern farmer must conduct accurate analyses, gathering ample information and filtering it effectively," he advises.

This year, Akhvlediani experimented with DEKALB's innovative corn hybrid seed material, DKC 6980, sourced from "Agrosphere." The results were healthy corn with excellent characteristics, prompting him to plan a larger-scale cultivation of DEKALB seeds next year.

In addition to seeds, Akhvlediani utilizes other products from "Agrosphere," including the RUBIN 12 from LEMKEN. This tool, which he introduced to Georgia, simplifies post-harvest soil treatment. "RUBIN 12 was a revelation. It efficiently reincorporates post-harvest residue into the soil, enriching it, which is far more environmentally friendly compared to field burning," he notes.

Currently, Akhvlediani is busy with the post-harvest sorting and storage of his crop while actively using RUBIN 12 to prepare the soil for next year's planting season.