22.09.2025

How Can We Revive Georgian Villages?

Why Rural Revival Matters

For decades, Georgian villages have been losing their population. Young people migrate to the cities, leaving behind aging communities. Empty yards and silent gates are no longer just statistics - they are landscapes without a pulse.

Reviving rural areas does not only mean taking care of one’s backyard. Today, it requires reinventing the village as an economic and cultural system.

What Should Be Developed in Villages?

Revival should be built on:

• Local natural resources

• Climate advantages

• Community knowledge

• Market accessibility

Examples by regions:

• Kakheti – bioindustry: winemaking, sheep meat, pomegranate syrup, free-range poultry, dairy products.

• Samtskhe-Javakheti – potato, turkey and goose meat with export potential to Armenia and Turkey.

• Racha-Lechkhumi & Svaneti – traditional dairy recipes, selective breeding of goats and sheep.

• Shida Kartli – horticulture (peach, apple, strawberry, tomato, cucumber) and poultry farming.

• Kvemo Kartli – diverse agriculture, bio-products, honey production.

• Guria – revival of tea and citrus, poultry breeding (e.g. branding “Gurian Chicken”).

• Imereti – large-scale horticulture, poultry, eco-farms.

• Samegrelo – branding local products: bio-tea, bio-nuts, bio-eggs, bio-dairy.

• Adjara – mountain goat and sheep farming, branded coastal fish, eco-herbs for local and export demand.

The Role of Processing Industries

To strengthen the rural economy, processing industries must be developed:

• Fruit and vegetable preservation,

• Essential oils (lavender, mint, tangerine, eucalyptus),

• Medicinal herbs,

• Organic food (flour, oil, nuts),

• Dairy products (cheese, yogurt, curd),

• Honey and beekeeping products,

• Dried fruits, nuts, grains,

• Traditional textiles and crafts.

These industries generate jobs, income, and cultural identity, while supporting sustainable development.

A Strategic Vision

Georgian villages can become:

• Centers of bio-products,

• Hubs of agricultural innovation (drones, analytics, digital trade),

• Tourism and brand product destinations.

Needed steps:

• Investments in infrastructure,

• Adoption of technology,

• Education and training programs,

• Cooperatives and micro-industries.

Conclusion

Georgia has unique resources - climate, geography, traditions. With the right strategy, rural development can increase its annual turnover to 15 billion GEL within 10 years.

Reviving villages is not a return to the past - it is a path to the future.