ONEArmenia is partnering with Sahman NGO to provide 18 families from Baghanis, an Armenian village bordering Azerbaijan, with 4 beehives each, allowing them to create a stable income and sustain themselves through honey production. As these regions are under constant sniper and small arms fire from Azeri positions, most of their fields are unusable (or only cultivated at night). Thus, they are raising $30,000 to build a series of villager-owned and operated bee hives in Tavush. Here are some sweet facts: ONE beehive can produce up to 25 kg of honey per year, and in Armenia, EACH kilogram can be sold for up to 7 USD.... and with 7 USD, a family in need can put food on the table for 3 days. In border villages such as Baghanis, starting a beekeeping business can mean the difference between local development vs. total emigration. Baghanis is located a few kilometers away from the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. There is no industry, and most of the village’s lands are inaccessible because of border issues. The economic conditions and the lack of jobs force many villagers to leave. We want to give the people of Baghanis the opportunity to earn a stable income and sustain themselves. Beekeeping is neither time-consuming, nor overly complex, but it is a lucrative trade. For the last four years, Sahman NGO has been working with similar villages in the Tavush region. Their model has proved efficient, with 30 greenhouses and 112 beehives. For us at ONE Armenia, Sahman NGO, and the local community, it is crucial that the project’s impact goes beyond the 18 families. For that reason, the future beekeepers have already agreed that they would give back to their community by donating 1kg of honey per hive over 2 years. The donated honey will then be sold to help fund the local kindergarten. Donate generously, and share with your friends!
