ABSTRACT
In March 1983, a Georgian State Committee for agricultural production was created regrouping the functions of three ministries—agriculture, land improvements and technical supply. This chapter shows what was at stake in these Georgia experiments with emphasis on the main innovations and on the obstacles encountered. Georgian leaders did not fail to emphasize that the generalization of their experiment required a stronger effort to implement equivalent changes at the Federal level. Georgians have criticized the method of computation which discriminates against the planting of orchards on arable land which takes place extensively in their Republic. Price policy and services to and supplies for farm units raise much graver problems. The Georgian raionnoe agro-promyshlennoe ob"edinenie (RAPO) by-laws rest of course on the standard Soviet bylaws of December 1982, but also are inspired by the Abasha experience and differ in various aspects from the Soviet standard, particularly with regard to subordination relationships and the definition of links between the RAPOs and central administrations.
