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Digital Villages Initiative in Europe and Central Asia

Marneuli villages, Georgia

The Marneuli villages (Maradisi and Dioknisi), located in the southeastern Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia, border Armenia and Azerbaijan and are home to approximately 750 people. The villages were established by ecological migrants from the Adjara region seeking refuge from the constant threat of landslides and avalanches. Greenhouse vegetable production and dairy farming are predominant in the region and are the main sources of income. 

The Marneuli villages boast a tight-knit, forward-looking community with women farmers, in particular, playing a leading role in agricultural cooperatives, farms, small businesses and local self-help groups. The villages have full and stable 4G Internet coverage. Smartphone and computer ownership is near ubiquitous, and social networks, notably WhatsApp and Facebook, are vital platforms for the exchange of information and sales of produce. 

The Marneuli villages face increasing challenges from droughts, harsh winters and floods, which are becoming more common. Prolonged winters and frosts negatively affect fruit tree blossom cycles, leading to decreased harvests, while hot summers lead to the drying up of rivers, resulting in shortages of irrigation water. Furthermore, the rising salinity levels in the soil decrease its fertility, further exacerbating the agricultural challenges in the region. 

Challenges

The agricultural sector in Marneuli villages is significantly affected by the broad fluctuations in climate, leading to increased frequencies of droughts that parch the land, as well as heavy rainfall and flooding that saturate the fields, leading to waterlogging, soil erosion and losses of crops. Strong winds pose another challenge to the sector, damaging crops and disrupting cultivation practices, while frosts harm crops, affecting their yield and quality. Hailstorms further exacerbate these issues through the physical damage of plants, reducing productivity. 

Climate change is significantly contributing to the increase of soil salinity in the Marneuli villages. As temperatures rise, evaporation intensifies, leading to a concentration of salts in the soil. Heavy rainfall and floods then contribute to the dispersal of these salts, bringing them to the surface and further degrading soil quality. High salt concentrations place osmotic stress on plants, making it difficult for them to absorb water and nutrients, resulting in stunted growth, reduced yields and lower crop quality. Furthermore, saline-rich soils are associated with reduced soil structure stability, increasing the threat of erosion.

Due to the absence of warehouses, cold storage and refrigeration facilities, the vegetables and dairy products produced in Marneuli villages deteriorate quickly after harvesting, compelling farmers to sell their produce immediately to avoid spoilage, often at reduced prices due to seasonal oversupply. Post-harvest food losses are a recurring issue in the region, and the limited access to suitable transportation, such as trucks and vans with cooling compartments, further limits their access to distant markets where they could sell their produce at competitive prices.  

While many farmers in the Marneuli villages own smartphones and computers, only a few make use of digital tools within the agricultural sector. Most farmers are unaware of the potential benefits digital technologies can offer to the agricultural sector.  
 

DVI interventions

Digital advisory services for farmers

Farmers gained access to personalized digital advisory through the Georgian TelAgri platform, enabling them to consult with agronomists online. Using the platform, farmers could describe the challenges they encountered in their agricultural activities, share photos of specific issues, and receive tailored advice from experts. Organized into multiple channels based on crop types, farmers not only received solutions to their own farming challenges but also learned from the experiences of others.

Monitoring of agrometeorological conditions

Marneuli villages continue to face challenges associated with climate change. To support local farmers, Metos, a global provider of advanced agricultural technology solutions, donated a weather station to the community. The station provides site-specific data and timely alerts on weather conditions and critical parameters to aid in planning farming operations.  This information is delivered to farmers’ phones through a mobile application named GECSA (Georgian Climate Service for Agriculture), developed by UNDP.

Training on the use of digital agriculture solutions

In Georgia, there are several digital solutions openly available for farmers’ use. However, many farmers remain unaware of these valuable tools. To address this knowledge gap, training sessions are conducted to raise awareness and demonstrate how to use these digital solutions effectively.

Integrating digital technologies in University’s educational farm demo farm

The demonstrational farm of the Agricultural University of Georgia is enhanced with a set of digital pest traps donated by Scoutlab, providing students, academic staff, local community members and farmers with a valuable opportunity to witness the practical application of digital technologies in farming.

Piloting a Farm Management System

Cattle farmers participated in the pilot of FAO’s Farm Management mobile application, developed as part of the Georgian National Animal Health and Identification System (NAITS). This mobile app allows cattle owners to record and optimize feeding rations, manage breeding schedules, and monitor milk yield, among other functionalities. By streamlining these critical tasks, the application enhances farmers' ability to plan and monitor their operations more effectively, leading to improved productivity, resource management, and overall farm efficiency.

Highlights

FAO's Digital Villages Initiative in Georgia
16/08/2024

Nestled near the Khrami River, the Georgian villages of Dioknisi and Maradisi from Marneuli municipality share more than just a landscape —they are...

EU-supported Online Vineyard Pruning Video Tutorial for Viticulturists Now Available in Georgian
30/11/2023

In November 2023, video tutorials on respect pruning in vineyards became available online for Georgia’s viticulturists.

Smartphones are boosting gender equality in Georgia
07/03/2023

The use of social media is transforming people’s lives, including in small villages like Malika’s. By communicating through social media and messaging...

Video

Digital Villages in Action in Europe and Central Asia: Focus on Georgia
10/01/2024

Digital Villages in Action in Europe and Central Asia virtual event launched DVI actions in eight countries, bringing together policy actors, stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries. Georgia’s Dragan Angelovski, Technical Adviser of FAO discussed Georgia’s progress and plans for the introduction of DVI in the country.

Smartphones: A new agricultural tool for women in Georgia
13/04/2023

Nestled in the vast plains of Georgia, in the shadows of the snow-covered Caucasus mountains, Malika Machalikashvili’s farm in Pankisi Gorge was once pretty traditional. She owned a hazelnut orchard, raised chickens and livestock and grew vegetables. She used to bring the produce to the local mar...

Publications

Evaluation of the project “Technical Assistance to Support the Establishment of a National Animal Identification, Registration and Traceability System (NAITS) in Georgia”
01/01/2021

This report presents the results of the final evaluation of the project “Technical Assistance to Support the Establishment of a National Animal Identification, Registration and Traceability System (NAITS) in Georgia” implemented from 1 December 2016 to 31 December 2021.

Digitalization of the food control system to measure food safety in Georgia
01/01/2023

Effective data collection during food control procedures by the public authorities is essential to ensure food safety and compliance with regulations. Using modern technology plays a vital role in acquiring information from food businesses, food control inspections, and other food control actions.

Smallholders and family farms in Georgia
01/01/2020

This country study is an important output of the regional FAO project on Empowering Smallholders and Family Farms. This report aims to analyse the development trend and current state of smallholders and family farms in the country and to study the current political priorities and policies affecting smallholders and family farms.

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Contact

Digital Agriculture Team

FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

[email protected]