Hashoo Foundation (HF) Pakistan in collaboration with HF USA implemented a ‘Plan Bee’ project in the Gilgit-Baltistan region funded by Houston Students USA (HS USA). The overall goal of the project was to increase the income of 20 poor women through the sale of honey. The women were trained in honey bee farming, 60 beehives (3 each) and production kits were distributed among the new beekeepers. HF works with these beneficiaries to ensure the effective utilization of the training and its contribution towards the improvement of their household. The project began in January 2014 and concluded in December 2014.

2. 1 | P a g e
Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................... 2
Objectives....................................................................................................................................... 3
Methodology .................................................................................................................................. 3
Data Compilation and Analysis ................................................................................................... 4
Study Findings............................................................................................................................... 4
A. Honey Production, Income Generation and Utilization ................................................... 4
B. Access to Education, Health and Food .............................................................................. 5
Challenges Faced........................................................................................................................... 6
Learning Experience..................................................................................................................... 6
Conclusion and Recommendations.............................................................................................. 6

3. 2 | P a g e
Introduction
Hashoo
Foundation
(HF)
Pakistan
in
collaboration
with
HF
USA
implemented
a
‘Plan
Bee’
project
in
the
Gilgit-­‐Baltistan
region
funded
by
Houston
Students
USA
(HS
USA).
The
overall
goal
of
the
project
was
to
increase
the
income
of
20
poor
women
through
the
sale
of
honey.
The
women
were
trained
in
honey
bee
farming,
60
beehives
(3
each)
and
production
kits
were
distributed
among
the
new
beekeepers.
HF
works
with
these
beneficiaries
to
ensure
the
effective
utilization
of
the
training
and
its
contribution
towards
the
improvement
of
their
household.
The
project
began
in
January
2014
and
concluded
in
December
2014.
Figure 1 Group work during the Basic Training of Honey Bee Farming at Gilgit Baltistan
Considering
the
previous
success
of
working
in
groups,
HF
supported
the
beneficiaries
to
form
a
honey
business
group
named
“Sumbul
Honey
Business
Group”.
One
of
the
main
achievements
of
the
group
was
the
development
of
their
own
brand
“Sumbul
Pure
Natural
Honey”.

4. 3 | P a g e
An
assessment
was
conducted
to
follow
up
and
find
out
the
status
of
the
project.
Objectives
1. To
ascertain
the
overall
effectiveness
of
the
HS
USA
project
implemented
in
Gilgit-­‐Baltistan.
2. To
find
out
the
issues
and
challenges
faced
by
the
beneficiaries.
3. To
learn
and
recommend
suggestions
for
future
utilization.
Methodology
This
study
followed
a
diverse
approach
where
qualitative
and
quantitative
methods
were
used
for
data
collection.
A
questionnaire
was
developed
and
Focus
Group
Discussions
(FGDs)
were
conducted
to
collect
data
from
the
honey
business
group.
The
regional
team,
comprising
of
Monitoring,
Evaluation,
Accountability
and
Learning
(MEAL)
and
Enterprise
Development
Program
(EDP)
officer,
collected
and
compiled
the
data,
whereas
analysis
and
reporting
was
done
by
HF
core
MEAL
unit.
Figure 2 Focus Group Discussion with beneficiaries

5. 4 | P a g e
Data
Compilation
and
Analysis
The
data
was
collected
through
FGDs
and
imputed
manually.
This
data
was
verified
and
organized
thematically
to
bring
out
the
achievements,
issues
and
challenges.
The
study
findings
and
analysis
were
prepared
by
narrating
the
highlights
of
the
business
group,
which
ultimately
provided
the
analysis
of
the
implemented
project.
The
overall
analysis
of
the
research
study
depicted
the
following
results:
Study
Findings
A.
Honey
Production,
Income
Generation
and
Utilization
Women
Empowerment
through
Honey
Bee
Farming
“Plan
Bee”
Project
was
implemented
in
2014.
The
group
was
able
to
produce
572
lbs
(260
kgs)
honey
and
the
total
income
was
US
$2,600.
The
beneficiaries
stated
that
shifting
the
beehives
on
time
during
winter
season
could
increase
the
production
of
honey.
Moreover,
they
mentioned
that
the
beehives
were
shifted
late
during
the
winter
season
due
that
the
bees
were
attacked
by
the
drones
(wild
bees).
An
unfavorable
weather
condition
was
another
contributing
factors
in
the
reduction
of
beehives,
which
led
to
less
production
of
honey.

6. 5 | P a g e
10%
5%
80%
5%
Income
Ublizabon
Trend
Food
Health
EducaJon
Others
Moreover,
the
income
utilization
trend
showed
a
very
high
concentration
on
‘education’
than
to
food
and
health.
B.
Access
to
Education,
Health
and
Food
63
children
were
enrolled
in
school
during
the
project,
of
which
12
children
changed
their
schools
for
better
education.
Regarding
the
‘food
pattern
change’
respondents
revealed,
lesser
production
of
honey;
the
major
portion
of
income
was
spent
on
education,
which
was
their
first
priority.
Therefore,
the
food
pattern
of
beneficiaries
almost
remained
the
same.

7. 6 | P a g e
“Working in group has made me social and
confident. …………I am happy that I am
part of the group”
(Expressed by a group member)
Regarding
the
beneficiaries’
involvement
in
‘decision-­‐making’,
mostly
stated
that,
they
are
now
involved
in
the
school
selection
for
their
children,
household
grocery
shopping,
and
other
domestic
matters.
One
of
the
beneficiaries
expressed
that:
“(…)
previously
at
household
level,
I
was
involved
in
few
domestic
decisions..
With
this
project,
I
am
getting
exposure
and
in
future
I
may
become
part
of
more
important
decisions
at
household
level….”
During
FGDs,
the
beneficiaries
expressed
that,
before
the
project
they
were
limited
to
house
chores.
Now,
they
have
the
opportunity
to
meet
people,
their
social
interaction
has
increased
while
working
in
the
honey
business
group.
The
beneficiaries
further
anticipated
that
this
project
would
not
only
contribute
in
their
families’
economy
in
the
future,
but
also
provide
awareness
about
running
their
micro-­‐enterprise.
Challenges
Faced
! Shifting
of
beehives
being
highly
risky
and
costly.
! Attack
of
drones
(wild
beehives)
killed
the
honey
bees,
which
effected
production.
! Unfavorable
weather
condition.
Learning
Experience
! Timely
shifting
of
beehives
locally
as
well
as
to
down
country
could
increase
production
and
reduce
risks.
! Precautionary
measures
and
know-­‐how
about
bee
diseases
could
reduce
the
loss
of
bees.
Conclusion
and
Recommendations
On
the
basis
of
physical
observations
and
analytical
review
of
both
quantitative
and
qualitative
data,
following
are
few
recommendations
for
future
utilization:
! A
constant
follow-­‐up
and
refresher
course
of
this
newly
established
honey
business
group
by
the
technical
program
team
would
help
the
group
to
update
their
knowledge
and
utilize
it
more
efficiently.
! Interaction
of
the
new
group
with
the
established
honey
business
groups
will
help
the
new
beekeepers
learn,
share
and
exchange
information
with
experienced
beekeepers.

8. 7 | P a g e