Women beekeepers with big plans
Since 2019, UN Women, the Kakheti Regional Development Foundation and the Taso Foundation have been collaborating on social mobilization and economic support initiatives for women in rural areas of Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli. Through training, knowledge-sharing and business management skills development, these initiatives have empowered local women to launch new business ventures and expand existing ones. Among them are women beekeepers who produce ecologically clean honey and grow their businesses.
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‘This project has strengthened my motivation to pursue our family business with even more enthusiasm,’ says 24-year-old beekeeper Dali Papunashvili
Dali Papunashvili is a historian pursuing her master’s degree at Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University. She also works as an assistant for individuals with special needs at Telavi’s Public School No. 1, named after King Erekle II.
Dali loves her profession, but she is equally passionate about beekeeping, a family tradition her family has been following for 30 years in the village of Magraani. “My grandfather was a beekeeper, and I’ve been involved in this work since childhood. I always helped my family with honey extraction and paid attention to every detail. Now, I’m fully involved in all aspects of it,” says Dali, who continues the family tradition by producing ecologically clean, organic honey.
Dali began developing her honey business after joining the project being implemented by UN Women and the Kakheti Regional Development Foundation. She first became a member of a self-help group and then decided to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the initiative. The young beekeeper completed business management training, won a grant competition and acquired modern hives along with the other necessary equipment. Now, her work is much easier, saving both time and effort.
“This project has strengthened my motivation to pursue our family business with even more enthusiasm and to make Magraani honey renowned. We don’t use any chemical additives; everyone knows that producing organic products is very important to us, so I also want to focus on proper branding,” says Dali, who plans to further develop the Magraani honey business.
“I’m proud of my business, which has provided me with my first income,“ says 39-year-old beekeeper Alina Elizbariani
Alina Elizbariani has never had formal employment. She stopped her university studies after getting married and focused on raising her two children. While primarily engaged in agriculture and livestock, she also cared for two beehives and harvested honey for her family.
When UN Women’s project started in the village of Kartikami in Akhalkalaki Municipality, Alina joined a self-help group, which completely transformed her daily life. She attended training sessions, learned to write a business plan, won a grant competition and received funding for honey production equipment. Soon, she increased the number of hives to eight and launched her first business.
“I love working with bees; it calms me. Harvesting honey and interacting with them is my favourite ritual. Since joining the project, I have had my own finances, which I had always dreamed of. I’m proud of my business, which has provided me with my first income,” Alina shares.
Her day begins with checking the beehives: each bee requires special care and attention, so Alina remains vigilant. She has continued to add new hives, increasing the current total to 17. With the help of the project, she now has branding and hopes to further develop her business.
The UN Women regional project “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus” is implemented together with the Kakheti Regional Development Foundation, the Taso Foundation and CARE Caucasus, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC).