In 2021, two classmates – Leila Sulkhanishvili and Ketevan Khundadze – decided to invest in the production of greenhouse vegetables targeting the development of sustainable horticulture farming in Kakheti region of Georgia.
Leila holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration and Finance with 20 years of experience in positions as Chief Accountant and Financial Manager in different companies. She is also the chairperson of the Council of Women Entrepreneurs of Georgia. Ketevan holds an MBA in General Management and is a Supply Chain, Logistics, and Procurement professional with more than 20 years of experience in managerial positions and a track record of working in senior positions in international companies in different sectors, including manufacturing, banking, and FMCG companies.
The company was established with an ambition to empower women in rural communities and, at the same time, establish a profitable and sustainable business. In the long run, the company targets to use renewable energy sources (solar panels), which was incorporated into the title of the company: Mzis Ferma (geo: Sun Farm).
Mzis Ferma is located in the Alaverdi village of Akhmeta district on a 2.2 ha plot of land. Currently, the company operates 1000 m2 of conventional greenhouse space, 500 m2 of “Chinese” passive solar power greenhouse space, and 1.5 ha of open-field production, told EastFruit in the company. The plots are fully equipped with automatic irrigation systems, and the farm is provided with electricity and natural gas.
“Greenhouse production is not developed in that part of the Kakheti region, so we started growing tomatoes and bell peppers, mainly focusing on the local market”, explains Ketevan. “After 1.5 years and two seasons of growing, we decided to switch to lettuce production and increase the scale.”
“We have partnered with a logistics company that works with different markets and HORECA chains, including McDonald’s, and to deliver high-quality products to the fast-food chain, we are introducing GlobalG.A.P (certified food safety assurance) standards.”
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Until now, the company has already invested over 250,000 USD, including the part based on a subsidized agro-loan.
“At this stage, our main focus is on lettuce, but we are facing big risks and have decided to improve technologically by switching to hydroponics and, in this way, increasing the yield”, explains Ketevan.
The company plans to invest 1,500 m2 of hydroponic greenhouses and convert current facilities from soil-based production into hydroponics. In 2024-25, Mzis Ferma expects to harvest 3,000 m2 of hydroponic greenhouse space, yielding about 60 tons of lettuce annually.
