Fruit Gardens Established in Aghsu District

On 5 April 2019, a fruit garden was established in Aghsu district within a long-term project called “Fruit Gardens” that aims to improve the welfare of low-income families in the regions of Azerbaijan. The project is run by IDEA, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and UN Azerbaijan.

A total of 1000 pomegranate trees were planted on a 2-hectare area during the tree-planting event in Aghsu. The garden was divided between local families that will be growing and harvesting the trees being able improve their financial situation.

The pilot project of planting the fruit trees was first held with the participation of IDEA founder and FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva in April of 2017. Gardens like this have already been established in Ismayilli, Shamkir, Aghstafa, Tovuz, Aghdash, Gakh, Lankaran, Beylagan, Sabirabad, Aghjabadi, Barda, Lerik, Guba, Gabala, Imishli, Goygol, Gazakh and Balakan districts, and distributed among low-income families, including the war veterans and a martyr’s family members.

The project carries an important social, economic and environmental impact, helping the impoverished families of the country generate income in a sustainable way and improve their livelihoods, as well as contribute to efforts to lower the country’s dependency on the import of agricultural products.

Nearly 20,808 hazelnut, pomegranate, apricot, feijoa, date, walnut and apple trees were planted and allocated to a total of 63 low-income families within the project.

Next tree planting events within the project will take place in the rest of the country throughout the planting season in 2019.

Special thanks go to the 200 helpful volunteers of Aghsu who joined and organizations that supported the event.