Edvard Shermandini from Georgia explains more about his experience in the DEMETER project. Edvard is involved in Pilot 5.1 ‘Disease Prediction and Supply Chain Transparency for Orchards/Vineyards’. The pilot focuses on complete farm management in vineyards and orchards, providing pest and disease management tools to optimise pesticide usage and increase crop quality. It is running in Serbia, Montenegro, Georgia and Slovenia.
- Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your farm?
My name is Edvard Shermadini from village Ghvlevi, Kareli Municipality. I am managing the farm, where I grow apples in 17 hectares, cherries in 3 hectares, grapes in 2 hectares and strawberries in 2 hectares.
- How did you get involved in the DEMETER project?
I have involved in the DEMETER project through Georgian Farmers’ Association
- What technology are you using as part of the DEMETER project?
I am using irrigation management, insect management, temperature, humidity and precipitation monitoring.
- What benefits have you achieved through using these technologies?
Based on received information and data from DEMETER I started to irrigate my orchards.
- With regard to technology on farm, what are your main concerns?
As I have been informed by the Georgian Farmers Association, the pheromone traps will be putted in the spring 2021 and I will be able to monitor codling moth, which was main problem in my apple orchard in 2019. For me at this stage little bit unclear how DEMETER can alert me concerning the apple diseases, like: apple scab, powdery mildew.
- What do you hope to achieve by participating in the DEMETER project?
I believe that digitalization of agriculture activities will help me to allocate my resources effectively and reduce production self-cost.
- What advice what you give to other farmers who are considering adopting technologies on their farm?
After running all services, I would recommend other farmers to use DEMETER’s irrigation and pest management platforms to run the farming activity in a better way.
Interview is available in Georgian here.
