Rural Development Agency and UN Women's Organization launch greenhouse pilot programme for women in two municipalities

In partnership with the Rural Development Agency, a pilot programme for setting up greenhouses was developed. The programme will enable women farmers who own small land to receive subsidies for greenhouses and produce agricultural products throughout the year. It is significant that in the municipalities of Marneuli and Lagodekhi, where the programme is to be implemented, the climate and environmental conditions are also favourable for the establishment of greenhouses.
 
Representatives from UN Women, the Rural Development Agency and the local government introduced the initiative to the local women on 12 September in Marneuli and on 19 September in Lagodekhi. Nino Tsilosani, Chair of the Gender Equality Council of the Parliament of Georgia, also attended the meeting held in Marneuli.
 
Participant Nargo Beridze, who lives in the village of Heretiskari in Lagodekhi Municipality, commented after the meeting: “It should be noted that this initiative is specifically designed for women living in rural areas, as it will be an important source of support for them. The women themselves will also be interested, as they are the ones who usually run the greenhouses. I too live in a rural area, I have a cucumber greenhouse, and I also want to participate in this programme. In addition, on behalf of my community union, ‘Hereti’, I will provide information to everyone who wants to participate, and I will also help them to fill in the application forms.”
 
It should be noted that along with the financial support, the programme also provides technical assistance and knowledge-sharing to the participants. The women farmers will be given theoretical training in the care of specific crops and in greenhouse management, and after they receive funding, they will undergo practical training for those specific crops.

The pilot programme is implemented within the framework of the memorandum signed between UN Women and the Rural Development Agency. The memorandum aims to increase the opportunities of women living in rural areas, their involvement in the agency’s programmes, the development of special initiatives and, as a result, the socioeconomic empowerment of women.

Cooperation between UN Women and the Rural Development Agency is part of UN Women’s regional project “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus”. It is implemented with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Austrian Development Cooperation.

Programme starts on 20 September.