As a freshwater resource-rich Caucasian country, Georgia is well-positioned to produce high quality trout in its mountains. However, the Georgian trout sector is struggling and faces a number of constraints to further development.
In this study, we conducted both desk and field research, including an analysis of official data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia and interviews with various stakeholders in the trout value chain. We also put forth a case study of the trout cooperative Samegobro 2014 in which we discuss in detail the challenges many trout farmers face on an everyday basis.
According to our analysis, the most pressing constraints the Georgian trout sector faces are an absence of local trout feed production and high prices of imported feed products, which negatively impact the competitiveness of local firms; the absence of professional farming skills; the absence of disease control and prevention mechanisms; and the absence of infrastructure and logistical facilities necessary for product differentiation.
Given these constraints, we considered the perspectives of trout farmers, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and its Agricultural Cooperatives Development Agency, and professional associations to propose a set of recommendations that, we believe, most closely align to the interests of all trout value chain stakeholders and are realistic to implement at the same time.
In particular, we advocate local trout feed production, the creation of professional veterinary care and water quality management services, the formation of professional education centers and the formation of second level trout farmer cooperatives.
It is our belief that the degree to which these recommendations are met will determine the future of the trout sector development in Georgia.
