version1183creditscredits hereheader_headlineheadline here ...header_font_hex000000header_hexFFFFFFheader_height0body_hex000000body_frame_hex000000controls_hex333333footer_hexFFFFFFfooter_font_hex000000footer_height15htmlbg_hexFFFFFFplayer_styledefaultautoStartfalseautoShowCaptionstrueclick_to_playtruedisplay_sizesfalsedisplay_headlinefalsedisplay_footertrueshowCreditsfalseshowCaptionstrueembed_stylefalsecentertrueheader_headline_fontArialcaption_font_faceArialcaption_font_size16footer_font_faceVerdanafooter_font_size9scrub_previewfalseshow_volumefalsetransition_typecrossfadetransition_time0.7show_thumbnailstrueshow_controlstruefullscreentrueslide_onlytruecaption_hexFFFFFFcaption_background_hex000000caption_bg_opacity70durationtlength161838fla108287swf784671userindex_width600index_height433shell_folderiOS_html5custom_sizetruecustom_width600custom_height400custom_pixels_around_image0custom_audiohi0first_cig.jpg00100001002929vn_cig1.jpgBui Van Duong’s family (of Muong ethnic minority) is among 3 million poor households in Vietnam. Their main source of income is from rice farming and occasional labor. Photo: Huong Lan Vu / World Bank00100001004961vn_cig2.jpgIn 2012, Duong was among a group of 13 farmers in Hoa Binh Province who received two beehives to start a business of keeping bees. They are among the 6,000 groups covered by the World Bank-supported Second Northern Mountains Poverty Reduction Project. Photo: Huong Lan Vu / World Bank00100001006632vn_cig3.jpgThe group meets regularly to monitor the hives and suggest ways to expand their business. They also keep a common fund for buying medicine in case the hives have diseases or when a member needs credit. Photo: Huong Lan Vu / World Bank00100001008481vn_cig4.jpgBees are now more securely kept in a wooden box hive instead of a traditional log one. As a result, the amount of honey harvested from their new hives is more than double and the production cycle is shorter. Photo: Anne Delannoy / FAO001000010010027vn_cig5_2.jpgThe production costs of beekeeping are minimal since farmers have no need to feed the bees. The bees extract nectar from flowers, helping pollinate the surrounding farm crops and improve yields in the process. Photo: Pham Quoc Hoan / World Bank001000010012728vn_cig6.jpgExperienced beekeepers like Bui Van Bem (right), often provide advice to newer members like Duong. They impart useful tips on splitting hives and detecting diseases. Photo: Huong Lan Vu / World Bank001000010014475vn_cig7_2.jpgDuong and his wife cut off the wax capping with special knives while talking about plans on where their children will study. During the peak period, beekeepers extract honey about every 10 days. Photo: Huong Lan Vu / World Bank001000010016196vn_cig8.jpgHoney is strained before it is poured into bottles. Each time a farmer extracts honey, at least four other members come to help. Photo: Huong Lan Vu / World Bank001000010018406vn_cig9.jpgThis year, Duong has produced 160 bottles of honey and has sold 90 of them at 100,000 VND ($5) each. Duong knows that honey is a good income generator. He estimates that with $1,000 he’ll make this year, “I can cover education costs for my three kids.” Photo: Anne Delannoy / FAO001000010020718vn_cig10.jpgMost members of the group sell their bottles to traders who regularly come by the village. Duong always deposits a few bottles at shops and restaurants on the main road to Hanoi to increase his sale. Photo: Huong Lan Vu / World Bank001000010022024vn_cig11.jpgDuong pours honey to treat neighbors who help him with the extraction. He currently maintains 12 beehives and hopes to expand his business. “If I have 20 beehives or more, I will no longer have to find off-farm work,” says Duong. Photo: Huong Lan Vu / World Bank001000010024261last_slideen_2.jpg00100001001383319800400