Description
Economic opportunities for rural Armenian communities are scarce.  These opportunities along Armenia’s border frontier with Azerbaijan are even more limited.  To help address this important issue, The Paros Foundation has launched several initiatives aimed at job creation in rural communities.  This includes planting more than 800 fruit-bearing trees, establishing a large scale rabbit farm, fertilizer production, small animal feed production and honey production.  These economic development opportunities are all administered under the auspices of the Aygepar Business Incubator, which provides rent-free space, sanitary conditions and marketing and technical expertise to local businesses.
The Paros Foundation has launched a high quality honey production just outside of the village of Verin Tsakhavan in the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region with 50 bee hives. Â The immediate goal is to grow this production to 200 bee hives over the next two years to create commercially viable quantities of high-altitude, raw honey. Â This will lead to expanded job creation and opportunities in the market place as all components of this important project are manufactured locally in the Armenian market including hives, bee families, wax starter sheets and concrete block stands. Â Even the glass jars for sale are manufactured in Armenia!
One complete hive and bee colony costs $250. New hives and colonies will be added to expand the total number in the spring. Individuals that sponsor a complete hive will receive one jar of honey from this year’s harvest, a certificate indicating what number hive was established with their support and the opportunity to personalize their honey jar. Please follow this link to personalize your jar of honey:Â https://forms.gle/Wv1ejDr8QL4yVo3PA
Gallery Images
The Need
To help combat limited economic opportunities in the Tavush Region’s border communities, The Paros Foundation is working to create job opportunities and collective marketing opportunities via its Aygepar Business Incubator. Expanding honey production will not only create new jobs, but encourage other local residents to expand their beehives as new markets will benefit the entire area.
Short Term Impact
In the short term, an immediate economic impact will be felt through the purchase and expansion of 50 to 75 beehives in the spring. This will effect the hive producers, bee colony farmers, block producers and create addition jobs for bee keepers.
Long Term Impact
In the long term, expanded honey production will create commercially viable quantities of honey both for local consumption and export. Once export markets are established, other local honey producers will have opportunities to export their harvests as well.
Sponsors Benefits
Sponsors that donate at least $250 to “sponsor a hive” will receive a jar of honey from the 2021 harvest along with a certificate noting which hive is sponsored in their name. In addition, all sponsors are listed on The Paros Foundation website. Visits to Tavush and the honey field can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
Our Donors (34)
- Mr. & Mrs. Greg & Lori Garabedian $300 Dec 28, 2023
- Mr. Kevin Cerrone & Ms. Christine Lagana $250 Dec 27, 2023
- Mr. Sarkis H. Alanjian & Mrs. Arusyak Balikyan $1,000 Nov 12, 2023
- Edward & Pamela Avedisian Charitable Trust $12,000 Jun 13, 2023
- Mr. & Mrs. Assadour & Lena Kizirian $300 In Memory of Nvair Demirjian Tatoulian Apr 20, 2023
- Armenian Renaissance Association $300 Apr 17, 2023
- Anonymous $300 Apr 11, 2023
- Renita $300 Apr 4, 2023
- Arax Mansourian & Shahen Hairapetian $1,200 Mar 31, 2023
- Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Linda Cirella $600 Mar 30, 2023
- Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Linda Cirella $600 Mar 30, 2023
- Anonymous $1,000 Mar 27, 2023
Updates: Images & Information
Our honey is packaged and ready for sale in Armenia. Â Sponsors of hives are receiving their honey this week!
Our first year honey harvest has begun! Â As plans to expand the number of hives continues, more and more jobs will be created for both beekeepers, hive manufacturers and those people involved in packaging the honey.
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