Empowering Georgian Farmers With Swiss Agricultural Expertise
Aleksi Andiashvili, a graduate of the program-supported animal husbandry training course. Credit: Swiss Agricultural School Caucasus
Georgia’s agricultural sector is facing a shortage of skilled labor, while farmers in rural communities struggle to secure high-value employment opportunities. A collaboration between the USAID Industry-led Skills Development Program and Swiss Agricultural School Caucasus (SASC) is bridging this gap by providing Georgian farmers with access to world-class agricultural training.
Thanks to SASC’s expertise in animal husbandry and milk processing and high vocational education and training standards, alongside USAID’s co-investment, the Applied Skills Training Center, a state-of-the-art training facility was established in Dmanisi, southern Georgia. The center meets EU training standards and houses an innovative laboratory to support hands-on learning. SASC worked with local private sector partners to adapt six training programs from Switzerland’s renowned Plantahof to address key challenges in Georgian agriculture. The training programs target areas experiencing the greatest shortage of skilled personnel: animal husbandry, dairy processing, feeding farm animals, animal health, crop production, agricultural mechanization, pasture management, and forage conservation
The facility is connected to the school’s farm, a modern dairy operation that covers the entire production cycle, from forage to primary milk production and cheesemaking. It also includes long-term training and dormitory facilities. To ensure access and affordability for trainees from across the country, SASC offers housing and flexible training schedules, complemented by a hybrid training option that combines online theoretical lessons with on-site practical sessions.
After completing the animal husbandry training course, Aleksi Andiashvili secured a position on the school’s farm, where he can apply his newly developed skills. “Before the training, I lacked exposure to the latest advancements in the field,” he notes. “The course was essential for understanding the precise water needs of livestock, effective monitoring practices, and how to identify critical factors at any moment, and I developed highly effective skills that are beneficial for working on the farm.”
The program expects to train 400 rural farmers and dairy processors. By equipping farmers with internationally recognized agricultural Swiss training, this partnership is not only enhancing employment prospects, but also contributing to the productivity of Georgia’s agricultural sector.
This article is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of IESC and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
