On 14 November 2019, a fruit garden was established in Astara district within a long-term project - Fruit Gardens that aims to improve the welfare of low-income families in the regions of Azerbaijan. The project is run by IDEA, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

During the tree-planting event, a total of 1250 feijoa trees were planted on a 2-hectare area. The established garden was given to local families, who will be growing and harvesting the trees sustaining and improving their income.

The first such fruit-tree-planting was launched with participation of IDEA founder and FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva in April of 2017. The gardens have already been established first in Ismayilli and, later in Shamkir, Aghstafa, Tovuz, Aghdash, Gakh, Lankaran, Beylagan, Sabirabad, Aghjabadi, Barda, Lerik, Guba, Gabala, Imishli, Goygol, Gazakh, Balakan Aghsu, Oghuz and Yevlakh districts, having been distributed among low-income families, including the war veterans and a martyr’s family members.

The project carries an important social, economic and environmental impact, helping the impoverished families of the country generate income in a sustainable way and improve their livelihoods, as well as contribute to efforts to lower the country’s dependency on the import of agricultural products.

Nearly 23,120 trees of hazelnut, pomegranate, apricot, feijoa, date, walnut and apple species were planted and allocated to a total of 72 low-income families within the project.

Fruit gardens are expected to be established throughout the rest of the country.

IDEA thanks the 200 young volunteers who planted the trees, and everyone who joined and supported the event.