Organic Georgia Holds Key Meeting, Discourses on the Future of Organic Farming and Market Access

On June 26, with the backing of USAID Georgia, the association "Organic Georgia" hosted an evaluative meeting of the Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) program at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Batumi. The gathering aimed to review the project's progress and chart the path ahead for the organization.

Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, the agricultural sector, various farms, and the university, as well as delegates from Batumi, Khelvachauri, and Kobuleti municipalities, were among the attendees. They were given insights into the work undertaken during the project, the outcomes achieved, and the forthcoming strategies of the association.

The deliberations of the meeting centered on two primary themes. First, the challenges tied to the cultivation of subtropical crops, and second, the significance of organic farming in relation to the prospects of tapping into the markets of the European Union and North America. A sentiment of readiness to transition toward organic methods, in both citrus farming and other crop cultivation, was echoed by the farmer participants, who expressed willingness to leverage the association's guidance in this transition.

Under the aegis of USAID's HICD program, "Organic Georgia" has been honing its public relations and strategic communication capabilities. The association's core mission lies in the propagation of tropical crop production and sustainable farming practices, with an aim to enhance public cognizance about organic farming and bolster farmers' technical proficiency and capabilities. By supporting the association, USAID is fostering the growth of agricultural and bio-product production in the Adjara region. This will, in turn, catalyze food safety, sustainable production, and rural employment.