Grasshoppers from Rustavi Occupy Vano’s Tractors, Delivered Before Elections

Manon Bokuchava, Kvemo Kartli

Tractors parked at the entrance to the city have been attracting the attention of Rustavi residents for some days already. It is easy to guess that the agricultural equipment is new – the dark blue, green and orange combine harvesters and tractors look like huge toy-lorries.

Whilst Rustavi residents look at the new tractors from a distance, the villages of the region are in bad need of this equipment; they still cultivate plots with outdated tractors, horses or ploughs attached to donkeys.

The new agricultural equipment was finally delivered to Rustavi on September 17 when Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili visited Rustavi and brought tractors, combine harvesters and other vehicles with him; he handed them over to young specialists who represent 12 farmer service centers throughout Georgia.

According to the Prime-Minister’s comments to the media, these tractors were to be immediately sent to the villages. Young mechanics were to take care of them and take part in agricultural activities.

However,  in fact, this agricultural equipmen has arrived a bit late. By now, residents of almost every village have cultivated plots – they have planted and harvested some crops. Farmers have already mowed the fields. During Merabishvili’s visit to Rustavi, he asked: “Will they need this mower now?” and people answered him – no. Most of the new tractors will share the same fate because the active phase of land cultivation has already finished in the districts.

“I cannot say when the tractors will go to the villages. It was our duty to bring them here. We have brought about 300 tractors and 25 combine harvesters,” representatives of the GT Group, Ltd explained to us.

We went to see Vano’s tractors the day after the prime-minister’s visit. We saw that nobody has taken them yet. Tractors with signs saying Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Zestaponi, Abasha, Gachiani [districts where supposedly tractors shall be taken to] are still standing at the entrance to Rustavi.

Peasants from the districts cannot use Vano’s tractors yet. However, they already saw on TV that government has purchased new agricultural equipment for them. Whilst peasants still cultivate plots with outdated tractors or ploughs attached to donkeys, grasshoppers have occupied the new tractors in Rustavi. They feel very comfortable inside the tractor-cabins.