Under its Credit and Enterprise Development (CED) program, the Hashoo Foundation facilitates and administers provision of small loans to existing and new beekeepers to add another dimension to its Women Empowerment through Honey Bee Farming project Plan Bee. These small loans enable the women keepers to purchase more hives to achieve economies of scale and expand their enterprise. Beneficiaries have been chosen after conducting an extensive baseline survey.
As the result of the collaboration with the University of St. Thomas Micro Credit Program (UST MCP), Owl Micro Finance (OWF a non- profit organization run by students from Rice University) and the MicroFinance Initiative at the University of Houston (MFI UH), 34 women have been trained in honey bee farming in 9 villages in northern Pakistan. 146 beehives and basic equipment have been distributed. Three harvests per year are projected to yield approximately 8,000 Kg. of honey considering each beehive produces 18 Kg. under favorable conditions. The beekeepers sell their honey to the Honey Bee Association for $3.52. Hashoo Foundation buys the honey from the Association and pays a 20% premium above market price and successfully links the women to 5-Stars hotels and grocery stores in Pakistan, provided the women send their children to quality schools, improve their health and nutrition. Today, 278 girls and boys have access to quality schools.
The CED Program Phase II projects to train 94 additional rural women in 2011.
Learn more about CED
Group picture of beekeepers in Chatorkhand and Ghizer
Join Our Email List 
