Investments in Georgian olive production

Proceedings of ‏The 3rd International Conference on Management, Economics and Finance

Year: 2021

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/3rd.icmef.2021.02.130

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Investments in Georgian olive production

Nino Orjonikidze and Nino Liparteliani

ABSTRACT: 

More than 300 varieties of olives are known. 10% of them are of Georgian origin. This plant was known in Georgia several hundred years ago. Olive trees are spread along with laurel plants on Urta Mountain. Some plants are also found in Baghdad, Chokhatauri, Senaki, Khobi, Terjola, New Athos, Gurjaani and Sighnaghi districts. Olive culture has been widespread in Georgia, in the arid subtropical zone of Abkhazia and Kakheti. We have historical facts about the existence of olives in Georgia. Olive cultivation was started by monks in New Athos in 1879 and a large plantation was planted. After sovietization, this plantation was transformed into a Soviet farm. Under the then political regime, the plan could not be implemented, the olives were replaced by another crop.  Lives on average more than 300-400 years (there are also older trees). It is also known that olives were abundant in Tbilisi at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. At the beginning of the 20th century, olives were cultivated intensively in Georgia. Every year 60-78 tons of fruits were harvested, from which canned food, marinades, and olive oil were made.  In Tbilisi, on the Sololaki ridge, near the Botanical Garden, there was an oil variety – “Tbilisuri”, which is now preserved only in Abkhazia. After 1927, olives became a foreign culture for Georgia. Its production, according to the centralized management of the state, was instructed to the Republics of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, while the cultivation of other crops began in Georgia. In particular, tea and citrus in western Georgia, apples and vines in eastern Georgia. Olive crop production in Georgia has good prospects. There is great interest in this unique plant, which provides a good opportunity to diversify the fruit assortment and improve the economic conditions of the country. Today, new plantations are cultivated in different regions of Georgia, mainly with seedlings imported from Turkey. Unfortunately, the old varieties no longer exist, or are preserved in the form of separate trees. Therefore, the first task is the restoration of olive varieties (“Tbilisuri”, “Akhasheni”, “Butko”, etc.), which were distinguished by good adaptability and resistance. For this it is necessary to find still surviving varieties, to establish nurseries, to multiply Georgian varieties and to introduce them in production. Expansion of oil fruit plantations for Georgia will become a source of additional employment. Increasing olive oil production will create 800, 1,000 jobs.

Keywords: investment, production, employment, competition, promotion.