Co-occurrence of (sub)categories73 with the help of the code relation browser (see table
Annex 3)
MAXQDA-queries for the expert interviews: Text retrieval per category system
Frequencies of main and subcategories per expert (see graph chapter 4.4.3) Frequencies of main categories per expert
Visualization of the frequencies
Co-occurrence of (sub)categories with the help of the code relation browser (see table
Annex 3)
73 Please note that in MAXQDA the term “code” is used instead of “category”, as they also speak of the “coding
system”. Since in the current study the term “category system” is used, this implies also that here the co-occurrence of “categories” is addressed, although in MAXQDA the query is on the co-occurrence of “codes”.
83 Based on these queries, the data was analyzed in detail. Furthermore, quotations from the text data were selected and the content was paraphrased and summarized.
4.4 Results of the Study Phases
The results of the three study phases (exploratory study, focus group discussions, expert interviews) are presented separately in chapters 4.4.1, 4.4.2 and 4.4.3. The results are condensed in chapter 4.5. The exploratory study is presented by summaries of the collected data in the form of continuous text and a graph depicting the agri-food chain. In addition, pictures showing the socio-economic situation as well as the situation of agriculture and tourism in the Kazbegi region are provided. The results of the focus group discussions and the expert interviews are presented according to the category system following Schreier (2012, p. 219 ff.), since the focus of this study is not on obtaining an in depth-picture of the cases (the interviewees), but on the data gathered from the interviewees with regard to the research questions, which is structured via the category system. For this category-based presentation of the data, per category, continuous text which describes the results is combined with original quotations from the interviewees, which contributes to illustrating the context. In addition, the absolute frequencies of the codings per category are provided by a graph with stacked columns covering all categories as well as by frequencies in the continuous text in some cases (Schreier 2012, p. 232).74 Additional figures are provided in Annex 3.
In the case of the expert interviews, results are not only described by continuous text but – for most of the categories – text matrices with selected quotations are also provided, following the recommendation of Schreier (2012 p. 222). The quotations of the text matrices are further paraphrased (following Mayr-Birklbauer 2009, p. 817). If no characteristic citations are available or if the number of codings is low, also in case of the expert interviews, selected quotations are only provided within the continuous text.
In the case of the focus group discussions, the reason for only presenting the results in the form of continuous text is the fact that the number of codings and citations is much lower than in the case of the expert interviews. Moreover, as the citations are already translated from Georgian to English, further paraphrasing might have led to additional errors and biases with regard to the meaning of what had been said.
All results are based on the answers of the interviewees and are not yet assessed for their truth and validity, or evaluated or interpreted by the researcher in this chapter on the results. This also applies to contradictions in the data. Furthermore, just as in Hüller et al. (2017, p. 3), linguistic errors which occur in the used quotations have not been corrected in order to remain close to the original statements and meaning.
74 Only absolute frequencies will be presented, as percentages do not provide much information in cases where the
84 4.4.1 Exploratory Study
As pointed out in chapter 4.2.1 one aim of the pre-study was to find out more about the socio- economic situation, agriculture, tourism and the relationship of agriculture and tourism in the Kazbegi region. The second aim was to generate the research questions of this study based on the findings of the exploratory study. In addition, the objective was to identify interview partners for the main study and to pre-test the network mapping approach.
Socio-economic situation in the Kazbegi region
According to the head of the Sakrebulo75 of the Kazbegi Municipality, there are approximately 5,000 people living in the region.76 However, during winter time only approximately 3,000 people remain in the region. This type of seasonal migration was mentioned by several interviewees. For example, the head of the village Kobi reported that out of 100 inhabitants in summer, only 20 to 25 stay in the village during winter time. According to an inhabitant of Sioni who works for the municipality’s representation of the Ministry of Agriculture, 70 out of 200 people stay in Sioni during the winter months. In Tsdo, only two people remain in the village during winter time; however, it also must be taken into account that during summer time only 13 people live in the village. According to a group of agri-food producers interviewed in the village Kanobi, one reason which enables people to leave the region for some months is that most of the locals have additional apartments in Tbilisi. In general, as shown by the statements of the interviewees above, the number of local inhabitants of the villages varies considerably. According to the head of the Sakrebulo of the Kazbegi Municipality, some villages are even totally depopulated and abandoned (See pictures 1 and 2, Annex 4).
As stated by the head of the community Goristsikhe, one of the main problems of this community is unemployment. The head of the community Sno also provided the information that only approximately 20% of the local population is permanently employed. This was confirmed by the statement of an inhabitant of Sioni, who indicated that around 80% of the village’s population is unemployed.
As pointed out by the head of the community Sno, the largest employer in the region is the state, and employed people often work as teachers or nurses. According to the head of the Sakrebulo of the Kazbegi Municipality a large proportion of the employed people also work as state and border guards. This interviewee as well as the head of the community Goristsikhe furthermore provided the information that a large proportion of the population live on their pension.
Agricultural production
According to the interviewees, the main economic activity in the region is agriculture, which is carried out as self-employment. As described by an interviewed agronomist, the main
75 The Sakrebulo is a local council. It is a “representative body of local self government” (Deutsche Forstservice
GmbH and AGEG Consultants eG 2010a, p. 124).
85 agricultural activities in the Kazbegi region are livestock husbandry, with a focus on sheep and cattle, and potato growing. This was confirmed by other interviewees. With regard to livestock farming in particular, cattle and sheep are kept. However, according to the interviewed agronomist, the number of sheep has decreased tremendously since pastures on Russian territory are no longer available to Georgian farmers. As described by a livestock farmer from the village Akhaltsikhe, the head of the community of Kobi and the group of agri-food producers in Kanobi, currently the main source of income is the sale of live cattle in autumn. As reported by a group of small-scale agricultural producers from Tsdo, traders come to the region and buy cattle to subsequently sell the live animals in Azerbaijan. In addition, potatoes and cheese are sold. In rare cases, trout is bred in local rivers, as was shown for example by a producer in Sno. (See pictures 3, 4 and 5, Annex 4).
Although a part of the locally produced agricultural output is sold, the owner of a guesthouse in Gergeti provided the information that a large share of production is used for own consumption. According to the head of the community of Sno, vegetables in particular are mainly produced for own consumption in small vegetable gardens close to the houses. This is in sharp contrast to vegetable production in former times, when vegetables where produced in greenhouses for commercial purposes and sold to Russia, which was pointed out by the head of the community Goristsikhe (see picture 6, Annex 4).
The interviews also provided the information that processing is mainly carried out by the agricultural producers themselves. This applies for example to meat and dairy products, as there is neither a slaughterhouse nor a milk collection center or dairy processing facility in the region. Another example of processing by the producers themselves is the extraction of honey from honeycombs. In addition, as was shown to the researcher by beekeepers in Kanobi in the course of the exploratory study, the producers themselves package the honey in jars. In the case of live animal exports or sales of seed potato for example, the processing takes place outside of the region. The delivery of products to the final consumers or the final selling points is either carried out by the producers themselves or by traders. As the exploratory study revealed, the production and processing are often done with outdated equipment and techniques. (See pictures 7 and 8,