Members of the JBA are Jara beekeepers still practicing this traditional type of beekeeping.

Ramaz Dumbadze Ramaz Dumbadze Ramaz Dumbadze
Aslan Shakaradze is a founder and a chairman of the Jara Beekeepers Association. Through his hard work and dedication Jara beekeeping is becoming increasingly attractive for both experienced and beginner beekeepers. Ramin Jijavadze is an executive board member of the JBA. He is an experienced Jara beekeeper who always remained committed to the century-old Jara beekeeping. He is involved in the provision of the oxalic acid treatment service with oxalic acid vaporizer to the association members. Ramaz Dumbadze is a self-taught beekeeper who has been involved in Jara beekeeping since his childhood. Now he is actively involved in provision of oxalic acid treatment service.


Membership benefits

For the first time in 2018, with the facilitation of the Jara Beekeepers Association, Jara honey was commercially harvested by a Georgian honey producer and exporter company. It was packaged and labeled according to international standards, making Jara honey available for consumers in both local and international markets. As a result of this first successful commercial harvest in 2018, beekeepers’ income and motivation increased, 12 new beekeepers began Jara honey production and the amount of honey harvested and sold in 2019 nearly tripled. In February 2020, in a country first, eighteen Jara beekeepers in Ajara have received Bio certification. Six more Jara beekeepers, including the Jara apiary in the Goderdzi Alpine Garden, are currently undergoing the certification process to obtain certification by the end of 2020. The 2020 harvest is anticipated to be up to 3 tonnes.

Demand for Jara honey is increasing, which ensures stable sales and a sustainable income for beekeepers. Use of the JBA services such as: consultation and advice on practicing organic beekeeping, the use of bio vet drugs that are delivered by the association to its members on-site, good hygiene and better husbandry, have resulted in a 30% increase in productivity of Jara hives due to decreased losses and healthier populations.