On 21-22 November 2019, another pair of fruit gardens was established in Shabran and Khachmaz districts 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 events,1,000 almond trees in Shabran and 1,248 hazelnut trees in Khachmaz were planted on 2-hectare area lands. The established gardens were 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, Yevlakh and Astara 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 25,368 trees of hazelnut, pomegranate, apricot, feijoa, date, walnut, apple and almond species were planted and allocated to a total of 78 low-income families within the project.

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

IDEA thanks the 400 young volunteers who planted the trees, and everyone who joined and supported the event.