A beekeeping farm was created for low-income youth
Heydər Əliyev Foundation Vice-President, founder and head of IDEA Public Union Leyla Əliyeva’s initiative has launched the project “Promotion of the Development of Eco-entrepreneurship among Azerbaijani Youth,” which is successfully continuing.
Within the project, 21 volunteer young people who participated in theoretical and practical training on establishing and properly developing a beekeeping farm successfully completed a two-week course and were fully equipped with all the resources and supplies needed for a beekeeping operation. The necessary conditions have been created for young beekeepers to effectively carry out the production process.
The purpose of the project, implemented through the joint organization of IDEA Public Union, the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Employment Agency and the legal public entity “ABAD,” is to expand the habitat of bees—the guardians of biodiversity—in our country, to encourage the spread of beekeeping as a type of eco-entrepreneurship across the regions of Azerbaijan, to support the production of natural honey, to contribute to improving the financial well-being of low-income families, and to ensure youth employment.
For two years, the farms will be regularly monitored by specialists so that young eco-entrepreneurs can increase the number of hives through natural growth, and necessary advice will be provided to them. Once they reach a stage of producing competitively viable honey in market economy conditions, new beekeepers will be assisted in gaining access to a wide customer base and in organizing efficient sales by displaying their products at “ABAD” stands.
It is known that bees and other pollinators play an important role in preserving biodiversity, and beekeeping is considered the most environmentally safe and at the same time useful type of agriculture. Honey bees actively participate in pollinating plants, increasing their productivity and enhancing their sustainability. Taking this into account, IDEA Public Union, together with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, has carried out several large-scale tree-planting campaigns aimed at supporting beekeeping by planting nectar-producing trees across the country.
We all need to take part in protecting bees, which play an essential role in the ecosystem! The small steps we listed can lead to major changes for the survival of these diligent creatures, such as:
We should support the production of environmentally clean products, which is the main condition of food security.
No bee wants to die, and stinging is their last, forced choice in moments of danger. Therefore, when we see a bee, we should not panic or attempt to kill it; instead, we should calmly and safely try to move it away without harming it.
We can support them by planting their favorite plants—such as lavender, acacia, autumn flowers, thyme, clover, linden, mint, sunflower, broom weed, etc.—on our balconies and in our gardens.
By carefully taking a bee out of water and placing it on a dry surface, we can save its life. After a short time, the bee will recover and fly away.
Loss of habitat is one of the most critical factors negatively affecting bees. By increasing and protecting green areas, we can save all living beings, including bees.
By joining educational activities about the importance of bees for our planet, we can make a great contribution to their protection.
Nature needs bees, and we need nature. Let us increase our care for bees and preserve them together. Where there are bees, there is life!
