On 4 April 2019, a fruit garden was established in Balakan district within a long-term project called “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 UN Azerbaijan.

A total of 1248 hazelnut trees were planted on a 2-hectare area during the tree-planting event in Balakan. The garden was divided between local families that will be growing and harvesting the trees being able improve their financial situation.

The pilot project of planting the fruit trees was first held with the participation of IDEA founder and FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva in April of 2017. Gardens like this have already been established in Ismayilli, Shamkir, Aghstafa, Tovuz, Aghdash, Gakh, Lankaran, Beylagan, Sabirabad, Aghjabadi, Barda, Lerik, Guba, Gabala, Imishli, Goygol and Gazakh districts, and 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 19,808 hazelnut, pomegranate, apricot, feijoa, date, walnut and apple trees were planted and allocated to a total of 60 low-income families within the project.

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

Special thanks go to the 200 helpful volunteers of Balakan who joined and organizations that supported the event.