Organizing Labour 

In Samegrelo, when organizing agricultural work, the majority of small families, if they had at least one yoke of oxen, were able to cultivate the plot of land independently.

 

In the case when they did not have oxen at all or had only one ox and, therefore, could not cultivate the land independently, they resorted to certain forms of labour organization. Such a co-working union in Samegrelo was called "Kalusvet" or "Kaluskvet Khojefi".

In the organization of labour, several families united with their tools and oxen and together, took turns cultivating each other's land.

 

Time for working, having meals and rest was meticulously distributed. During ploughing, women did not participate in the works but were responsible for preparing food and bringing it to the field. They brought mchadi (maize-bread), cheese, ghomi (maize porridge) and beans. While workers were dining, the oxen were fed and given watered and a rest.

 

In Samegrelo, as well as in the whole of Western Georgia, the form of labour organization was "Nodi", which meant mutual assistance and giving a hand to neighbours free. At that time, the owner of the plot were the neighbours worked for help, invited them to have a supper together at the end of the working day. The “nodi” was used when harvesting, shelling the maize, flailing the foxtail millet. Women could participate in harvesting and shelling the maize, while for flailing the millet they organized “nodi” mostly of women.

 

Among the forms of labour unions, one of the most important was an organizing of assistance to the needy families and widows. In such cases, neighbours would often come with their own food and agricultural tools and help the needy families. In Samegrelo, this form of labour organization was called by the word - "shentsooba".