NORTHGLENN, United States — Thousands of women in Afghanistan have faced challenging life circumstances, such as becoming widows, single mothers or refugees. However, many have found a new sense of purpose in establishing careers in beekeeping in Afghanistan.
Beekeeping in Afghanistan
Beekeeping offers a safer and legal alternative to growing opium, which some of the 6,000 women in the beekeeping industry might otherwise pursue to survive. The approximately 3,200 bee farms in Afghanistan help create more pollinated crops across the country, increasing overall food security.
The Women Activities and Social Services Association (WASSA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) partnered to train 50 participants, including 38 women, in beekeeping across five villages in Herat province’s Guzara district.
Participants in this program receive all necessary supplies, including hives, bees, jars and protective equipment. Extensive training sessions in the art of beekeeping last several months. Upon completing training, new beekeepers can decide how much to expand their businesses, sometimes managing 20 or more hives.
Trainees start with hives housing about 70,000 honeybees. This can produce up to 120 pounds of honey and 12 pounds of beeswax each year.
The Benefits of Beekeeping
Women in Afghanistan’s beekeeping industry produce about $80,000 in revenue annually from their products nationwide. More than 6,000 women work in the bee industry in Afghanistan, making it a viable career for those unafraid of stings.
Afghanistan produces more than 2,100 metric tons of honey each year. While overall revenue varies based on market conditions, one ton of honey can be worth $6,000 to $20,000.
As many as 85% of people in Afghanistan live below the poverty line, which varies by region. Many living in poverty earn less than a dollar per day, but a beekeeper’s annual income can exceed $3,000. Many women see their incomes more than double through beekeeping.
Beekeeping not only benefits the long-term financial situation of beekeepers but also helps other citizens in Afghanistan by making products like honey, beeswax, bee pollen and royal jelly more readily available. Honey costs between $8 and $11 per pound in July 2026.
Overcoming Societal Factors
Many parts of Afghanistan still enforce gender rules, especially with the Taliban present, severely restricting women’s ability to work outside the home. Women often face restrictions on their freedom to leave home, making secret home-based work necessary. Women in the rural workforce are also more prone to experiencing violence when they must leave their homes for work.
Male business partners assist WASSA’s beekeeping participants in distributing their products. Their hives are also located close to home.
Despite much of Afghanistan being poor, women do not face significant challenges in selling their products and making stable incomes. However, they must overcome environmental challenges such as droughts or floods. Women are equipped to handle these situations.
Success Stories
A 25-year-old woman named Hadia, her husband and their three children were refugees in Iran, struggling to maintain any income. Now, Hadia works as a full-time beekeeper, and the family is doing well.
Halima, a mother of seven, found herself supporting her family when her husband became too ill to work. At 54, she is able to do so thanks to the beekeeping program.
Within the same village, Hafizulla, a father of 10 and a refugee, also benefited from the program. It lifted him out of depression and gave him a new sense of purpose.
The Humanitarian Organizations
The UNHCR has operated globally since 1950, enriching lives in more than 130 countries. It provides immediate relief to struggling families by supplying food, shelter and cash assistance. Displaced refugees are better able to return home with the UNHCR’s help.
WASSA was established in 2002 as the first independent women’s organization in Afghanistan. It has helped more than 24,000 women and girls with disabilities receive vocational training, psychosocial assistance and other support toward establishing healthy independence.
In addition to beekeeping, WASSA helps people establish other self-sufficient careers, such as carpet weaving or tailoring. It assists women with mental health support, health care, food security and attaining basic human rights.
– Logan Hessek
Logan is based in Northglenn, CO, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Unsplash