UNDP's Aid for Trade project supports beekeepers' cooperatives. Establishment of a beekeeping cooperative brings significant benefits to both individual beekeepers and the industry as a whole. It will allow them to make bulk purchases of necessary preparations and inventory for the honey business, thereby reducing the cost of production. Also, it is easier for them to organize the sale of products in large volumes and cooperate with large exporters. Overall, this community provides more opportunities and increased income, making their business more sustainable and profitable. The Bal Recover cooperative is located in Osh oblast and consists of 50 beekeepers. TES Center implements the UNDP project “Trade Facilitation” funded by the Government of Finland, it aims to develop the honey value chain (HVC) in Kyrgyzstan. One of the main directions of the project is to strengthen beekeepers' cooperatives through the development of associations, joint work and improvement of production conditions and logistics. The project provided grant support to the cooperative “Recover Ball” for the purchase of specialized double-housed hives to organize a brood-rearing family with a uterus. The cooperative received about 100 boxes, half of which will be used for breeding pedigree, elite mothers, and part for nucleus hives - compact hives that are needed to create bee packages for export. “In beekeeping, it is important to breed mothers properly to keep the apiary productive. One of the key methods is the use of nurturing families. They come in two types: without a mate and with a mate. To organize a nursing family with a uterus you need special double hives, where the uterus is isolated in one of the compartments,” says Myktybek Abdylda uulu, project coordinator of the Natural Honey CDC, an experienced beekeeping consultant. According to Gulmira Mamatova, a UNDP staff member, the cooperative was previously engaged in artificial brooding of mothers, where an important link is the formation of a nurturing family. Within the framework of the UNDP Aid for Trade project, an innovation was introduced that significantly increased the efficiency of matriculture. The essence of the innovation is the use of a nurturing family with two hens. This method allowed to reduce swarming instinct, which is one of the main problems of traditional breeding. As a result, it was possible to significantly improve the quality of bred mothers, making the process more stable and productive. According to Egemberdi Busurmanov, head of the Bal Recover cooperative, the application of this technology opens new perspectives in breeding strong and productive bee families. “The experience of our cooperative will show that modern approaches to beekeeping can increase not only the quantity but also the quality of brooded mothers, which ultimately contributes to the development of the entire industry,” he notes. The two-mate method will allow for swarming control. One way to reduce the swarming instinct in bees is to use two mothers in one family. This method helps to increase hive productivity and prevent the family from splitting into swarms. How does the method work? Two mates (old and young) are placed in the same hive, but separated by a special lattice. One mate controls the lower hive and the other controls the upper hive. The bees are actively working, feeding brood and collecting honey, which reduces the desire to swarm. Advantages of the method: - Increased family size and strength. -Reduces the risk of swarming as the bees are busy working. -Increased honey yield due to the active work of two groups of bees. - The family remains calm, continues to work and collect honey. To introduce this method, the cooperative will use bee boxes purchased under the grant. They are convenient because they make it easy to divide the family into two parts: - In the lower enclosure, the queen and part of the brood are left. - In the upper case, frames with larvae are placed to raise new mothers. Receiving a hive grant from the UNDP Aid for Trade project has been a boost for the cooperative. It is a recognition of their hard work, innovative approach and commitment to the development of the industry. And an example of how uniting beekeepers, introducing modern technologies and supporting international programs can become a powerful impetus for the development of the entire honey industry in Kyrgyzstan.