Monitoring of Social Impact of the food price volatility in Georgia, 2012

6 Oct 2012

The Institute of Social Studies and Analysis conducted the study ordered by Oxfam, which had goal to identify the effects of social impact on food prices, using the following methods: Desk research, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. In total, three rounds of research were conducted, which was related to the cycles of harvesting the crop.

The main objectives of the research were to analyze the following issues:

• What is the impact of price changes changes on food?
• What is the impact of price changes on the welfare of women, men and children and how do they manage to cope with it?
• What is the impact of the price changes on the welfare of small farmers;
• How much social security mechanisms - formal (implemented by the state and NGOs) and informal - help people to overcome the crisis?

Desk research

In the framework of the desk research available data (publications of governmental and non-governmental organizations, data of the National Office of Statistics, other data and reports available via internet, etc.) were analyzed through structural and content analysis.

Focus groups discussions

6 group discussions were held in Tbilisi and in two regions - Kakheti and Imereti (these regions are distinguished by the high rate of families who are beyond the poverty line, according to the criteria introduced by the Social Service Agency, which is responsible for defining the poverty level in the country). The focus groups were comprised of the members of households, who are below the poverty line, also representatives of small farmers were involved.

In-depth interviews

4 interviews were held with small business owners in Kakheti and Imereti regions: Kakheti - 2 interviews; Imereti - 2 interviews.