Hashoo Foundation Pakistan in collaboration with Hashoo Foundation USA chapter, has implemented four ‘Plan Bee’ projects in Gilgit-Baltistan since 2010, through Chapelwood Foundation’s support. The overall goal of the projects were to increase the income of underprivileged women through building their capacity as honey bee farmers and distributing sixty (60) beehives (in each project) with production kits. To date cumulatively, 132 beekeepers were capacitated, as a result, those beneficiaries formed Honey Business Goups to collectively manage the honey production, transportation and packaging etc. A study of the progress for this project and these groups was conducted.

1.
Impact
Study
and
Status
of
Chapelwood
Foundation
Funded
Projects
Gilgit-­‐Baltistan,
Pakistan
March
9,
2015

2.
Contents
Introduction
................................................................................................................................................
2
Objectives
....................................................................................................................................................
2
Methodology
...............................................................................................................................................
2
Data
Compilation
and
Analysis
...................................................................................................................
3
Study
Findings
.............................................................................................................................................
3
1.1.
Sada
Business
Honey
Group
(Women
Empowerment
through
Honey
Bee
Farming
Project
“Plan
Bee”
Grant
1)
.................................................................................................................................
3
1.1.1
Honey
production
......................................................................................................................
3
1.1.2.
Income
generation
and
utilization
...........................................................................................
4
1.1.3.
Access
to
education,
health
and
food
......................................................................................
4
1.2.
Jubilee
Honey
Business
group
and
Honey
Partners
Business
Group
(Restoration
of
flood
affected
beekeepers)
..............................................................................................................................
5
1.2.1.
Honey
production
...............................................................................................................
5
1.2.2.
Income
generation
and
utilization
......................................................................................
6
1.2.3.
Access
to
education,
health
and
food
................................................................................
6
1.3.
Kashman
Honey
Business
Group(Women
Empowerment
through
Honey
Bee
Farming
Project
“Plan
Bee”
Grant
3)
.................................................................................................................................
7
1.3.1.
Honey
production
...............................................................................................................
7
1.3.2.
Income
generation
and
utilization
......................................................................................
7
1.3.3.
Access
to
education,
health
and
food
................................................................................
8
1.4.
Shaheen
Honey
Business
Group
(Women
Empowerment
through
Honey
Bee
Farming
Project
“Plan
Bee”)
..............................................................................................................................................
8
1.4.1.
Honey
production
(Ibs)
and
income
generation
($)
...........................................................
8
1.4.2.
Access
to
education,
health
and
food
................................................................................
9
Issues/challenges
faced
(overall)
...............................................................................................................
9
Learning
(overall)
......................................................................................................................................
10
Conclusion
and
Recommendations
..........................................................................................................
10

3.
Introduction
Hashoo Foundation Pakistan in collaboration with Hashoo Foundation USA chapter, has
implemented four ‘Plan Bee’ projects in Gilgit-Baltistan since 2010, through Chapelwood
Foundation’s support. The overall goal of the projects were to increase the income of
underprivileged women through building their capacity as honey bee farmers and distributing
sixty (60) beehives (in each project) with production kits. To date cumulatively, 132 beekeepers
were capacitated, as a result, those beneficiaries formed Honey Business Goups to collectively
manage the honey production, transportation and packaging etc. A study of the progress for this
project and these groups was conducted.
Objectives
1. To ascertain the overall impact of the Chapelwood Foundation’s projects implemented in
Gilgit-Baltistan
2. To find out the issues/challenges faced by the beneficiaries
3. To establish learning 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 were conducted to
collect data from the honey business groups. The assessment team comprised of regional (Gilgit)
MEAL and EDP officers. The details of the interviewed groups of all the four project of
Chapelwood Foundation are as follows;
SN Project name Implementation
area
Name of business group
1. Women Empowerment
through Honey Bee
Farming Project “Plan
Bee” Grant 1
Hussainabad,
Skardu
Sada Honey Business group
2 Restoration of Flood
Affected Beekeepers
Ishkoman, District
Ghizer
Jublee Honey Business Group
and Honey Partners Business
Group
3. Women Empowerment
through Honey Bee
Farming Project “Plan
Bee” Grant 3
Gamba, Skardu Khasman Honey Business
Group

4.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
502
595
611
132
154
Annual
Honey
Produc:on
Trend
(Ibs)
Produc:on(Ibs)
4. Women Empowerment
through Honey Bee
Farming Project “Plan
Bee”
Gahkuch Balla,
Ghizer
Shaheen Honey Business Group
Data
Compilation
and
Analysis
The data was collected through Focus Group
Discussions (FDGs) and imputed manually. The
data was verified and organized thematically to
bring out the successes, issues and challenges.
The study findings and analysis was done by
narrating the highlights of each business group
which ultimately gave the analysis of the
subsequent projects implemented.
The overall analysis of the research study depicted the following results;
Study
Findings
1.1. Sada Business Honey Group (Women Empowerment through Honey
Bee Farming Project “Plan Bee” Grant 1)
1.1.1 Honey production
The trend showed that the
first three years were positive
and encouraging, however for
the last two years, there has
been a drastic decline in the
production. The reason for
this decline was mainly
unfavorable weather
conditions (heavy rains and
strong winds), which resulted
in loss of beehives and
consequently production.

5.
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
3449
4379
4888
1334
1511
Annual
Income
Trend
(US
$)
Income($)
30%
10%
50%
10%
Income
U:liza:on
Trend
Food
Health
Educa:on
Others
1.1.2. Income generation and utilization
As per the year production variance, the
income also showed fluctuations. The
difference of income between 2012 and 2014
was almost 70%. The beneficiaries wish to
continue their efforts to increase production
through better management. They also
anticipated that 2015 would be a productive
year in terms of honey production and income.
The income utilization trend showed that
major part of the income has been utilized in
education followed by food and health.
1.1.3. Access to education, health and food
One of the objectives of the project was to increased access to education and health. It was
observed that before the project initiation, 106 children were enrolled in schools. However,
after the project completion, the enrollment increased by 19% which made the number
increase to 126. Furthermore, 14 students changed the existing school for better/higher
education during the project period. Regarding health access, the group beneficiaries

6.
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
2012
2013
2014
1100
1320
913
Annual
Produc:on
Trend
(Ibs)
Produc:on(Ibs)
responded that initially they were relying on self-medication, however now their awareness
level has enhanced and they are accessing the health centers in their vicinity in case of
emergency. When asked about ‘food trend change’, the group beneficiaries reflected that
before the project, they were rarely able to get food items from the Bazaar/shops but now
there is a little change and they are now able to get some grocery from Bazaar. One of the
beneficiary expressed that “…..I am now able to buy chicken and sometimes fruits for my
kids…I am happy about this.”
Regarding household decision-making, most of the women responded that they are mostly
involved in household decision-making. During the meeting, men beneficiaries confirmed
that they let women to take decisions specially children clothing, schooling and food.
However, it is anticipated that in future this paradigm of decision-making will expand and
women will be part of main household decisions.
Group beneficiaries also expressed the project has promoted the culture of business in their
area where women were mainly confined to household chores. This has increased women’s’
confidence, articulation and above all, has provided women with an opportunity for social
networking. One of the group women beneficiary expressed that “……..I was afraid of
meeting people and answering their questions, but this honey program has given me
confidence to talk and to do something for my children.”
1.2. Jubilee
Honey
Business
Group
and
Honey
Partners
Business
Group
(Restoration
of
Flood
Affected
Beekeepers)
1.2.1. Honey production
The trend showed slight fluctuation
in production. The main reason for
production decrease in 2014 was
due to unfavorable weather
conditions. Whereas in 2012 and
2013, because of the better
management, the beehives have
been increased from 58 to 64,
which has also contributed to the
overall good annual production
trend.

7.
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
2012
2013
2014
5500
6600
7761
Annual
Income
Trend
(US
$)
Income($)
50%
20%
30%
Income
U:liza:on
Trend
Food
Health
Educa:on
1.2.2. Income generation and utilization
The annual income trend saw slight variations. It was interesting to note the production in 2014
was around 30% less than 2013. However, the income earned was 15% higher due to better
selling rates to private purchasers. Although in 2012 and 2013 there was an increase in
production and the groups sold honey to Hashoo Foundation on the predefined/pre-decided rates.
It was observed that major part of the income was
utilized in food and subsequently at education and
health.
1.2.3. Access to education, health and
food
It was observed that prior to the project initiation,
173 children were enrolled whereas during/after the
project, the enrollment increased to 10 more. Also 12
already enrolled students changed their school for
better education. Regarding the food pattern, the
beneficiaries said that they are now able to purchase meat, rice and fruit which was rare
previously. Most of the women expressed that they are involved in decisions making like
domestic purchases and other family matters.

8.
0
200
400
600
800
1000
2013
2014
880
352
Honey
Produc:on
Trend
(Ibs)
Produc:on(Ibs)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
2013
2014
6600
3520
Annual
Income
Trend
(US
$)
Income($)
10%
40%
50%
Income
U:liza:on
Trend
Food
Health
Educa:on
Most of the women expressed how the project has provided them a platform where they can
interact with each other, share ideas, issues etc. few of the women beneficiary reflected “the
project has helped us to increase our income and confidence…”
1.3. Kashman
Honey
Business
Group(Women
Empowerment
through
Honey
Bee
Farming
Project
“Plan
Bee”
Grant
3)
1.3.1. Honey production
The trend showed the
production in the first year
was encouraging, however
unfavorable weather
conditions have severely
affected the production in
the following year; resulted
in less than half of the
production of 2013. The
situation also resulted in a
decrease in number of
beehives (initially the
beehives were 60 which
reduced to 40 due to bees
death).
1.3.2. Income generation and utilization

9.
The difference of income between 2013 and 2014 was almost 50% and this was mainly due to
less honey production in 2014. The beneficiaries hope to continue their efforts to increase
production and expect 2015 to be a productive year in terms of honey production and income.
The income utilization trend showed half of the income being utilized in education followed by
other areas for instance food and health.
1.3.3. Access to education, health and food
The analysis reflected that prior to the project, 61 children were enrolled whereas the number
increased to 78 (17 addition) during/after the project, 7 children changed their schools for better
education. The beneficiaries also responded that they were now able to go to the nearby hospital
due to awareness and affordability. A beneficiary expressed “….previously I was mostly relying
on self-medication but now if required, I take my kids to doctors….”
Regarding the decision-making, most of the respondent expressed that now their ideas/views
were valued at home. Few of the women exclaimed “we equally participate in our domestic
households decisions.”
Some of them were limited to the household chores previously and were considered passive
recipients, now they have the opportunity to come out and contribute to their family’s needs.
One of the women expressed that “this project gave me the confidence to move ahead….we can
easily share our problems/ideas in front of others.”
1.4. Shaheen
Honey
Business
Group
(Women
Empowerment
through
Honey
Bee
Farming
Project
“Plan
Bee”)
1.4.1. Honey production (lbs) and income (US $)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
income($)
produc:on(Ibs)
6270
627
Produc:on
(lbs)
and
Income
(US
$)

10.
10%
40%
50%
Income
U:liza:on
Trend
Food
Health
Educa:on
“Women Empowerment through Honey
Bee Farming Project “Plan Bee”
implemented in 2014, the group was able to
produce 627 lbs honey in the same year.
The main reason for less production was
reduced number of beehives (48 as compare
to 60). The bees were attacked by Wild bees
and also the unfavorable weather condition
became another contribution factor..
Moreover, the income utilization trend
showed more concentration on ‘Education’
than to health and food.
1.4.2. Access to education, health and food
Prior to project implementation, 67 children were enrolled whereas during the project 6 more
children were enrolled in schools. 9 children changed their schools for better education.
Regarding the ‘food pattern change’ there was a slight change seen. The respondents aspired to
continue the efforts to earn more..
Regarding the project, the respondents expressed that the project had not only uplifted their
economic status in their families, but also gave them social identity and improved their lives.
Overall
Issues
and
Challenges
Faced
! Bees death during shifting and lack of
infrastructure.
! Beehives’ shifting was highly risky and
costly.
! Attack of wild beehives killed honey bees
which effected production.
! Unfavorable and unpredictable heavy rain
and winds destroyed bees.
! Difference of level of cooperation and
interest of group members.
! Disease could not be identified on timely manner.

11.
Learning
Experience
! Timely shifting of beehives locally as well as to down country could increase production
and reduce risks.
! Group work and proper distribution of responsibilities among groups would increase
production and confidence of group members.
! Precautionary measures and know-how about bee diseases could reduce the loss of bees.
! Group member composition of both male and female could strengthen the honey bee
operations especially at hives shifting/transportation time.
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:
1. With respect to honey production in all groups, it was observed an increase in honey
production during the initial years. However, the production reduced in the subsequent years
or increased slightly in one or two cases due to ‘unfavorable weather conditions’. However,
better management practices were good lesson learnt, which similar groups could adopt in
other regions It was recommended to organize a ‘lesson learnt’ workshop of the four Honey
Business Groups (four projects) for the community to share positive impacts and areas of
learning.
2. The project shall substantially work on options of reducing the transportation risks and cost.
3. The technical and updated refresher training especially on ‘disease identification and cure’
was recommended for better management and production.