TRADITIONAL BRANCHES AND FARMING IN KHELVACHAURI MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

The paper studies and analyzes various written data and field ethnographicmaterials on traditions of farming spread over Khelvachauri municipality, whichhas an ancient history of origin and development. Specifically, the work describes thefolk agro technical rules of cultivation (grain, millet, barley, rye, bread) existing beforeand after corn cultivation (2 nd half of the nineteenth century). The work focuses onendemic breads characterization such as (makhas) spread in the Machakheli valley, andit concludes that Adjara should be considered as one of the local endemic bread breedingsite in western Georgia, that was not known earlier.According to Sarpi and Gonio ethnographic data, these micro-regions have beendistinguished for their care of dry (terrestrial) and wet (marsh) rice. In addition to domesticconsumption, rice was also a subject of foreign trade.The work deals with the establishment of the maize culture and its prevailingagricultural culture (2nd half of the nineteenth century), as well as the care and cultivationof horticulture and tobacco. It has been pointed out that the tobacco culture hasbeen particularly popular during the period of collectivization and has become one of themain sources of family income. This branch was spread only in two villages of AdjaraMinaret and Kirnati Sakrebulo. In other municipal councils, mainly gardening and citruscultivation were followed.107The work also deals with viticulture and fruit growing. Vine and orchard varieties,viticulture and winemaking, wine cellars and their local distribution hubs (upper Chkhutuneti,Cindyeti, Kirnaiti, Kapnistavi, Jocho, Ortabatumi) are described. In the winecellars only the high grapes were crushed and stored. Lowland vine varieties have beenwidespread in the municipality since the late 30's and are still extensively developed.In the last part of the paper we study cattle breeding and beekeeping. It also discussesthe structures, labor tools, forms of labor organization, and customs associated with thelisted industries. Illustrative material is attached to the work.