The cooperative “Soplis Imedi” is real hope for the village Ushapati in Martvili municipality, as it employs the majority of the local population-during the 9 months, 50 individuals work in the enterprise. This is one reason why it’s important to help cooperative development. This hazelnut cooperative is the only enterprise in the nearby villages, that is functional and serves a social cause. Besides, employing the locals, persons with special needs are engaged in cooperative work.
“Soplis Imedi” started in 2007 as a small hazelnut processing enterprise and became a cooperative in 2014. Within the project for cooperatives, Soplis Imedi received hazelnut drying machinery, which was very important for the enterprise. In the high humidity conditions of the region, the cooperative had to use natural methods for hazelnut drying, which would reduce the quality of production and consequently, the profits.
Gradually, Soplis Imedi has succeeded and is well-known across the region. A lot of locals want to join the cooperative and Soplis Imedi plans to enlarge. What is important, the cooperative has gained enough knowledge and information from the trainings. Having access to modern knowledge and technologies is very important for the farmers.
“Soplis Imedi” plans to export their products directly on the international market and seeks additional investors and stakeholders for this aim. This way, the cooperative will have more profits and increased information, which is an important condition for development.