During the Soviet era, Guria was one of Georgia’s key tea-producing regions, serving as a major supplier of tea for the entire Soviet Union. Large-scale plantations were established across the region as Moscow pushed the Union counties for agricultural self-sufficiency. Thousands of local workers, many of them women, were employed in the tea industry, which became deeply embedded in Guria’s economy and cultural identity.
Following the collapse of the USSR, many of these plantations were abandoned. Some were later privatized and transformed into modern farms cultivating traditional tea and, more recently, blueberries.
“Laituri was one of the largest tea-producing villages in Guria. Thanks to its acidic soil, the region was selected for tea cultivation during Soviet times. Even now, there’s significant demand for Gurian tea, but Georgian tea struggles to meet this demand and compete with cheaper alternatives on the local market. We conducted a cost-benefit analysis - comparing the investment needed per hectare for tea versus blueberries. The analysis showed that blueberries were more profitable. So, I chose to cultivate blueberries,” says Zaur Putkaradze, founder of Ltd. Nergi.
This decision would have been much harder without the help of a smart technology. The system includes sensors and monitoring tools that deliver real-time data on growing conditions - marking a major step forward in precision agriculture for small-scale farmers. It provides accurate, timely information about the need for irrigation, fertilization, and pest control, allowing for efficient and targeted crop management.
The installation of smart technology at LTD Nergi’s blueberry farm was one of six agricultural innovations and knowledge-sharing initiatives selected by the project “Modernization of Vocational and Education Training (VET) Related to Agriculture in Georgia”. The multi-faceted project envisages inter-alia support to everyone involved in farming: farmers, advisors, and teachers, through Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS), which is a collaborative approach, allowing all actors to share knowledge, experience, and new ideas.
Today, Mr. Putkaradze cultivates 2,200 blueberry plants across seven varieties - each one numbered and registered. Blueberries aren’t easy to grow. They require a lot of attention - full sun, consistent watering during the growing season, and precise fertilization. The smart system manages the care of each plant individually, delivering the right amount of water and fertilizer exactly when needed. This technology saves time, water, and costs while maximizing both quality and yield. In 2025, he expects to harvest at least 50-60 tons, with larger yields in the years to come. To prepare for this, he is constructing a facility equipped with refrigeration for storage, as well as a space to host young visitors.
“My goal isn’t only economic,” he emphasizes. “In 2005–2006, while visiting the Ohio University, I noticed young children taking tours. I was surprised. We were told that these visits were designed to engage kids with nature and agriculture from an early age so they’d develop an interest and perhaps later study agriculture at university. That left a lasting impression.”
Inspired by this, Mr. Putkaradze has started similar visits in Guria. “We brought kindergarten children on a farm excursion—you should’ve seen their enthusiasm. We also plan to collaborate with local colleges to involve students in daily farm work. It’s a win-win: we need skilled workers, and they need hands-on experience. We also plan to involve children from neighboring schools to spread awareness and spark interest in agriculture from a young age.”
A key aspect of the initiative is knowledge-sharing and community development. The demonstration farm will serve as a "living laboratory" where other farmers can observe the technologies in action and learn how to apply them. The project will offer regular training sessions and consultations, aiming to reach:
- 20 families in Laituri village directly
- 60 families across the Guria region
- 20 students studying agriculture
- All members of Guria’s AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems) through presentations and discussions.
As more farmers and students visit the farm and get to know modern technologies, the model will be replicated across Guria and other parts of Georgia, bringing more benefits to farmers. Such an approach ensures that the regions of Georgia produce not just quality crops, but also a new generation of farmers who are eager to learn, capable, and ready to succeed.
