Beekeeping is an important and lucrative in the agricultural sector, which has been all-sided developing in recent years following the measures taken by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.
In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On beekeeping”, all interested persons, legal entities, as well as organizations and enterprises have the opportunity to be engaged in beekeeping. The sector is low-cost and high-income, in addition, beekeeping is used to pollinate entomophily plants and increase the productivity of orchards.
Along with other cities and districts of the country, the rural population of Rasht and Tojikobod districts pay much attention to beekeeping and have rich experience, and the everyday efforts of these people have ensured that the country’s markets are supplied with high-quality honey. Therefore, the sector is developing in these districts.
As part of the Community-based Agricultural Support Project, based on the proposals of a group of women, it was decided to provide local women with beehives in the targeted villages to have had additional income. For this purpose, 13 women’s groups were formed in Rasht district and 6 groups in Tojikobod district, where beekeeping became their favorite occupation.
Recently, in order to get acquainted with the process of caring for beehives, the staff of the State Enterprise “Livestock and Pasture Development” visited Rasht area and became aware that a group of women are satisfied with their chosen field.
Beekeeping in Tojikobod district is also very well organized. Most of the boxes already have extra frames to increase the number of beehives and get honey. For them was accessed “Carpathian” type of bee which is very productive. In Kapali village of the district, there are beehives in the apple orchard where is sown sainfoin.
Sharofat Afgonova was elected as one of the leaders of the beekeeping group in Tojikobod district. Because Sharofat has a lot of experience in beekeeping.
- “We take the beehives to the mountains. In the mountains, the plants began to bloom. This will allow a group of women to get extra honey in a short period of time” - said Sh. Afgonova.
She believes that beekeeping is very convenient for women, as it is inexpensive and not difficult. At present, efforts are being made to learn the finesse of this occupation and thus provide jobs for mountain women and girls.
Monitoring results have shown that beekeeping can be a profitable enterprise for women. During the meeting, a group of women beekeepers of the project expressed their gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
The weather in Rasht and Tojikobod districts is very favorable for beekeeping sector. Therefore, beekeepers, especially women, are trying to increase the number of bee colonies. This factor, on the one hand, contributes to the improvement of living standards and, on the other hand, to ensure the country’s food security.
Nasrullo Naimov,
Gender and Youth Policy
Consultant at “Community-based
Agricultural Support Project”
State Enterprise “Project Management Unit 
State Enterprise “Project Management Unit