Dr. Greg Schwab of Richmond, a University of Kentucky Extension Specialist, recently returned from a volunteer assignment in the Republic of Georgia as part of a project with CNFA, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering people and enterprises in the developing world.
On his first trip to the Republic of Georgia, Schwab was tasked with assisting Nakhiduri LTD., a branch of the Georgian farm service center Agro Alliance, with soil fertility management. Schwab lent his technical expertise on subjects ranging from soil sampling and analysis to modern growing techniques for grain crops and commercial vegetable production.
Nakhiduri LTD. had been looking to expand its laboratories and facilities – and eventually a fully-functioning laboratory in the city of Tbilisi -- as well as hone skills related to soil testing and agricultural research.
“(Nakhiduri LTD. was an) excellent host organization,” Schwab said, noting that Nakhiduri’s staff was comprised intelligent, articulate individuals who were “willing to ask questions and make changes as needed…it is very impressive.” His impression of the local organization reflected a positive feeling he received from the overall country, whose people are “very hospitable.”
Schwab interacted most often with Robert Grevia, the organization’s director, who is a former chemistry professor, and expert in the field of analytical chemistry.
Schwab’s assignment encouraged him to think outside the box. Many times, he worked experimentally, testing the nuances of the regional soil.
“You get that whole perspective of something that’s completely brand new … you introduce that to a clientele that has never even thought about it,” Schwab said.
With Grevia’s support and knowledge, Schwab put on a series of day-long and half-day training sessions comprising soil testing and crop production, including assessing the soil and growing plants for nutrient deficiencies.
An extension soil management specialist at the University of Kentucky, Schwab splits his time between research and other extension activities outside of volunteering internationally. He places an added importance on disseminating scientific crop production information in a variety of media, such as publications, radio talk shows, regional presentations and newsletters. Volunteering through CNFA has been a recent addition to his repertoire.
“From a soil perspective, it’s always a very unique challenge to apply what you know to a system and situation that is completely different than what you’re used to,” Schwab said of his endeavor through the Farmer-to-Farmer program.
“As a volunteer, you draw on all of your skills,” he said. “My experience is with cooperative extension service; I’m used to teaching adults. That helps quite a bit. The adults are generally farm-oriented, and I can relate to them… you draw on everything to try to answer problems and assess the situation.”
Schwab traveled to the Republic of Georgia under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Farmer-to-Farmer Program, which provides voluntary technical assistance to farmers, farm groups, and agribusinesses in developing and transitional countries to promote sustainable improvements in food processing, production, and marketing.
For more information about the program, visit www.cnfa.org/farmertofarmer.
