Farmers throughout Kakheti region, eastern Georgia, learnt modern agricultural technologies to increase the value and quantity of crop production at seed fairs conducted by World Vision Georgia's Food Security Enhancement Initiative (FSEI) this fall. The four seed fairs also provided farmers information about quality seed producers in Georgia.

While agriculture plays a key role in the Georgian economy, farmers experience reduced crop yields due to lack of information on agricultural technology, lack of seed resources, and reuse of old seeds.

"I gained so much valuable information from this fair. Before coming here I thought I was doing everything correctly. In spite of my long experience, I have learnt a lot," said 65-year-old Vakhtang.

Through informational meeting with FSEI project consultants, farmers realized that implementing modern agricultural technologies could enable them to salvage a large portion of the 60 percent of greenhouse harvest lost each year. Now even though most of the farmers work very hard their financial situation is still very poor. The increase of harvest will improve their financial situation and enable them to better take care of their children.

Seven agricultural companies presented their products at the fair and provided approximately 120 farmers with information materials on seeds, chemicals, fertilizers and other relevant topics.

"There is a lack of modern technology and practice among farmers in Georgia. Farmers must learn to use available resources wisely. By using modern technologies they may increase the amount of harvest and make their work much more profitable than it is now. We explained this principle to farmers at the fairs using concrete examples. As a result, many farmers were interested in participating in farmer schools," said Vano Grigolashvili, FSEI project manager.

FSEI aims to improve food security among vulnerable households by improving farmers' capacity, crop and animal production, resilience of household income, and marketing and acquisition of food through the establishment of farmer schools. The initiative is implemented in four districts of Kakheti region, eastern Georgia.