The agricultural potential of Georgia | Farmers

The agricultural potential of Georgia | Farmers | Boers

Briefly about Georgia

Agriculture of Georgia

Georgia is highly rich in agricultural tradition, which became an integral part of its mentality, history, and cultural heritage. Agriculture played an essential and significant role during the formation of Georgia's statehood and contributed much to the country's economic improvement and development. Undoubtedly, Georgia has favourable natural and climatic conditions that are highly conducive to its agriculture. For instance, around 43.4% of Georgia's entire space is designated as the country's agricultural land, including meadows and pastures. Besides, 43 % of the territory is covered with forest.

Georgia is considered to have a wide Aviabiletebi variety of climatic and ecological zones that are most favourable for the growth of different crops and plants. Those crops include cereals, early and late vegetables, potato, gourds and melons, technical crops, subtropical crops, grapes, fruit variety, etc. Furthermore, it is by noting that Georgia is one of the oldest wine-producing regions globally, making the country proud of being the homeland of wine.

How Georgia’s geographical location effects on its business and economy

It must be said that the fertile valleys of the South Caucasus, on which Georgia straddles, are considered by many archaeologists to be the significant source of the whole world’s first cultivated grapevines and Neolithic wine production, right over 8,000 years ago. Even from the climatic zones perspective, the Georgian biosphere is highly diverse. For instance, it is known that there are around 12 different zones and approximately 49 types of soils in this country.

Besides, many endemic species make a perfect source for the development and success of cattle breeding and plant growth. Georgia is rich in potable water and amelioration resources too. Georgia’s geographical location is characterized by altitudinal zonality. Only 39 % of arable land is situated on an elevation of around 500 meters right above the sea level, while 29% is 500- 1000 meters above the sea level. The rest 21% is located 1000- 1500 meters, and 11% is over 1500 meters above the sea level.

From the farming industry standpoint, diversity is followed by various difficulties such as temperature swings, excessive precipitation, and active erosion in some regions. In Georgia, natural hazards often occur, like floods, earthquakes, landslides, abrasions, mudflows, avalanches, droughts, showering rains, hail, etc. that harm the country's agricultural production, and hence, the business and economy of Georgia.

But still, agriculture accounts for approximately 52% of Georgia's labor force, while around 98% of farmworkers are self-employed. According to GeoStat 2013, situations in the agricultural sector of Georgia significantly affected poverty indicators. The annual average salary of a farmworker counted to only 64% of the national average. It is noteworthy that most of Georgia's rural population does not have significant employment opportunities. Later, in 2014, income has increased. However, the business volume was still small cause income derived from the selling of agricultural products kalonkis xelosani with only 11.6% of the real income, which indicated that agriculture production in the country was oriented mainly as self-consumption. Though, the country has untapped agricultural potential.

As of 2017 and 2018, Georgia officially banned the sale of agricultural land to foreigner citizens according to the Georgian constitution. The new constitution said that agricultural land is a "resource of exceptional significance" and may be owned only by "the state, a self-governing entity, a citizen of Georgia, or a union of Georgian citizens."

The agricultural potential of Georgia | Farmers | Boers

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