Gori, April 13, 2016 - U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia (E&E) Thomas O. Melia and USAID Mission Director Douglas Ball traveled to Gori to meet with beneficiaries of U.S. Government development assistance at the AgroKartli farm services center. This was Melia’s first visit to Gori in his capacity as USAID’s Assistant Administrator.

AgroKartli is supported by USAID’s Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production (REAP) program, which works to increase income and employment in rural areas by investing in and delivering technical assistance to agribusiness. AgroKartli recently upgraded its facilities and increased the range of products offered to smallholder farmers in Shida Kartli, including high-quality farm inputs (seeds, fertilizers, supplies, etc.) and machinery services. AgroKartli’s expansion contributes to the agricultural development of Gori and surrounding villages along the Administrative Boundary Line with South Ossetia.

USAID’s REAP project is a five year, $19.5 million activity that aims to increase incomes and employment in rural areas by delivering firm-level investment and technical assistance to agribusiness enterprises. REAP stimulates increased private sector investment and commercial finance to the agribusiness sector, mitigating risk for rural small- and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs. REAP also expands commercially sustainable linkages between service providers, producers, post-harvest enterprises, and local business consulting firms.