Rural areas in Georgia suffer from high levels of poverty, declining biodiversity and are characterized by small farms with low productivity which are under pressure to industrialize and use increasing amounts of pesticides. Ecovillage Georgia is a living lab that explores how community-based, regenerative and organic agriculture provides a viable alternative to revive the countryside, regenerate soil and biodiversity and create fair and resilient economic models. Organic agriculture can support smallholder farming, is free from agro-chemicals and increases climate resilience.
Introduction - Georgian Smallholders and the Future of the Countryside
Rural areas in Georgia suffer from high levels of poverty, low agricultural productivity and outmigration. A total of 38% of the Georgian population lives in the countryside and 1,24 million people are engaged in agriculture, around 98% of them in family farms. Small farmers own on average 1-2 hectares, growing a limited variety of crops involving a high amount of manual labour. Official employment statistics capture 220,700 workers in agriculture in 2023, meaning that the remaining people are informally employed. The average monthly income from selling agricultural products is only GEL 93 (ca. EUR 31) per household. More than half of agricultural holdings produce mostly for their own consumption, selling only 10% or less of what they produce. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector only consist of 6.2% of the GDP while 40% of the population is employed in it. Georgia imports 77% of its wheat and more than half of vegetables and meat.
Domestic productivity levels are far below those of surrounding countries with similar climate and soils while the use of pesticides is around three times higher in Georgia and has increased more than fivefold since 2006. Georgia (6kg/ha crop land) uses almost as much kg of pesticides per hectare as the Netherlands (8 kg/ha crop land) which is one of the world’s top exporters of agricultural products but employs only 2% of its population in the sector. The import and use of agrochemicals is poorly regulated, there is a lack of re-enforcement of banned substances and no monitoring of pesticide residues in food or water. About a third of agricultural land is affected by soil erosion, mainly caused by overgrazing and unsustainable management practices that are common in conventional agriculture.
It is evident that a radical change of the sector is necessary to increase the economic and natural resilience at the backdrop of climate change, a deep political crisis in the country and the global economic crisis. Farming is associated with economic hardship, low quality of living and heavy physical labour.
Small farmers remain stewards of Georgia’s agro-biodiversity. By conserving heritage varieties of vegetables, grains, fruits and livestock, they preserve indigenous knowledge and rich cultural traditions. Their contribution to national food security is indispensable. The scrubs and fences that divide their fields function as windbreaks and refuges for wildlife and flora.
Despite this critical role, smallholders and rural communities face structural barriers to become more sustainable, prosperous and productive. Many lack awareness, access to information, technical skills, networks, technology and a fairly organized market. Women and minorities face additional barriers in terms of representation, access to markets, decision-making positions, credits and ownership. In 2024, 80% of agricultural land is in the hands of men and 90% of them is older than 40 years, underscoring gender and generational disparities that hinder fair rural development.
Following the same pathway of industrialization and up-scaling of the agricultural sector as Northern Europe, as advocated by the agro-chemical companies, a part of the government and some development initiatives, will have dire consequences. The process did start in Georgia and corporations like Syngenta and Monsanto are coercing farmers into taking up credits to buy expensive, imported hybrid seeds that cannot be saved and to use agro-chemicals that are subject to severe market price fluctuations. This results in economic depth, loss of own seeds, soil depletion and an increasing dependence on chemical inputs. Socio-economic consequences will be more unemployment and poverty, further depopulation of rural areas due to the lack of opportunities and a further decline of (agro-) biodiversity. In other countries that underwent rapid agro-industrialization, this process also caused increased rates of suicide among farmers. Industrial farming requires bigger plots, bigger stables, higher inputs and investments, and thus fewer landowners and farmers. Such ‘grow or die’ schemes tend to favour bigger farms and turn out unfavourable for family farms in the long run.
Due to aging of the rural population, some scaling will happen but Georgia will not be able to absorb the majority of the rural population in other sectors anytime soon. Industrial agriculture is not compatible to small-holder farming. Therefore, alternative pathways must be explored.
An Alternative Transition: What Does Organic Agriculture Have to Offer?
Sustainable, organic and regenerative agricultural practices offer an alternative development pathway that aligns with Georgia’s socio-economic and ecological realities. Organic farming generates added value, reduces dependence on imported agrochemicals and strengthens food sovereignty and food security.
Organic agriculture inherently promotes biodiversity, regenerates soil and protects water sources, making it a strategic investment in long-term national resilience. Georgian agricultural lands are under threat of climate change, especially droughts and land-slides. Organic agriculture increases organic matter in the soil, improving water retention capacity, drought and heat resistance, and prevents soil erosion. Implementing methods such as crop rotation, intercropping and using organic manure will result in healthier crops and increased harvests compared to the current practices, and increase resilience to climate change.
Georgia is ecologically and structurally well-positioned to shift to organic agriculture. Small-scale family farms are a great prerequisite for labour-intensive organic methods. Diverse climate zones, rich agro-biodiversity and mostly fertile soils further enhance this potential. In many ways, Georgia’s small plots and rural labour force can become a competitive strength when oriented towards high-value organic products, niche markets and community-supported agriculture. And it will help to overcome the abovementioned challenges and avoid the pitfalls of industrialized agricultural development.
Community based organic agriculture usually generates more profit per hectare due to better and more stable prices, and lower production costs. Producing diverse premium products can preserve and create jobs not only in production but also in processing, training, farmers markets or other direct marketing. A healthy, attractive landscape increases the potential for eco and agro-tourism and provide purpose and the quality of living in rural areas. Healthy, biodiverse and populated villages with interesting small-scale organic activities will increase the potential to develop farm stays, farm-to table experiences and eco-education.
After recent food scandals and low consumer trust in mass farming, an increasing number of buyers in Tbilisi long for more natural food from trusted sources. Initiatives like Ezo Market or farm-to-table initiatives as run by organic farmers from ‘Samkura,’ ‘Pona Organic Farm,’, ‘Odishi Farm’ and others use successful direct marketing methods for organic products. Although this is still a niche market, there is a high potential for expansion. Expansion should be accompanied by communication campaigns about how organic products may have less perfect appearances than products treated with chemicals in regular supermarkets but are often superior in taste, health and nutrition. Of course, state or donor support and subsidies can accelerate the transition as well as capacity building and creating favourable marketing and tax schemes.
Ecovillage Georgia as a Catalyst for Rural Regeneration
Ecovillage Georgia is an intentional residential community and amongst one of the few practical, community-led initiatives in the country that combines education, demonstration, research and community building in the field of regenerative agriculture, building and living. It explores holistic models of how rural areas in Georgia can transition toward a more ecological and socio-economical just future.
Ecovillage Georgia develops a demonstration garden and fruit forest that implements different elements of organic agriculture and permaculture. For example, Intercropping and crop rotation prevent and repel pests and diseases, and break monoculture in the garden and hazelnut plantation. Mulching keeps weeds from overgrowing and holds moisture in the ground and although manual weeding and hoeing are needed, herbicides are not. Compost and green manure replace mineral fertilizers, enriching the soil with micro-organisms and organic material instead of depleting it. These methods are effective and sustainable, regenerating the soil, biodiversity and can increase yields. By using these low-cost, natural methods, farmers can stay independent from the agro-industry. They do require a higher labour input, a substantial amount of knowledge, experience and time for the soil and ecological balance to re-calibrate. With the right approach and support, however, it is feasible to increase the amount of farmers who practice sustainable methods as is explored by the Ecovillage.
As a demonstration and experimentation site, the Ecovillage shows and shares what works under local climatic conditions, facing the same constraints as other Georgian smallholders. It is actively sharing and supporting mostly women farmers to adopt more sustainable measures while increasing their production. Women farmers have expressed their desire to use less chemicals in their land as they are noticing the adverse effects on their health when they are applying pesticides and they have the desire to feed their family healthy food. Seasonal workshops, practical demonstrations, educational programs for youth and open days for the broader public are organized to expose the general population to alternative ways of producing and processing food. These activities build capacities, generate awareness on the potential of organic agriculture and foster a culture of ecological responsibility.
In partnership with Polish experts and local farmer organizations, Ecovillage Georgia organizes trainings and knowledge exchanges, exposing Georgian farmers to high-quality methods and international best practices. This cooperation shows how impactful transitions are possible in countries with a similar history through small scale organic farming, adding value/processing on the farm, community building and innovative marketing strategies. Cooperation and exchange with other ecovillages and networks around the world give insights on governance, decision making and conflict management, income generation, community building and global movement strategies for farmers and communities.
Beyond farming techniques, the Ecovillage promotes a holistic regenerative model that integrates soil health, water management, biodiversity regeneration, seed saving, natural building and renewable energy. A systems-oriented approach is crucial in a context of declining civil spaces where rural communities face interlinked challenges: poverty, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. By examining the ways in which different sustainable practices can reinforce one another, the Ecovillage explores pathways for long-term ecological and economic resilience rooted in inclusive communities.
Uncertain Futures
Due to recent anti-European and anti-democratic policies by the Georgian government, funding has been halted by major donors and not-for-profit organization, including farming initiatives, are stigmatized as ‘foreign agents’ and face prosecution by the courts. Many initiatives, among them Ecovillage Georgia, stopped accepting any foreign funding since the repressive laws are in force from May 2025. This leaves a devastating funding gap, leaving the most vulnerable in society without support. Many organizations were forced to shut down and those remaining struggle to make ends meet, trying to re-invent themselves in an increasingly hostile and polarized political and economic environment.
With no government support available, Ecovillage Georgia is run by its members on a voluntary base, small private donations by Georgian citizens, sells its products at farmers markets and experiments with offering on-site events. The long term aim is to create a resilient, ethical and just local economy that allows residents to sustain themselves through diverse socio-economic activities and to ensure continually sharing knowledge, seeds and organic techniques with others free of charge. This may include expanding agricultural and wild herb collection activities, soft eco-tourism and hosting events and retreats.
In the current situation, democratic, inclusive spaces for learning and sharing are more important than ever. The Ecovillage brings forward a new positive narrative for rural Georgia that stands in contrast to the widespread pessimism caused by economic hardship, political repression, depopulation and the global and national tendency to industrialize agriculture. It illustrates how rural areas can function as spaces of innovation, learning, community cooperation and regeneration and contribute to national discourses towards a healthier, more resilient and equitable future for Georgia.