Agriculture & Food, Volume 13, 2025

Rezumat: This study examines the potential of a beekeeping training program that was piloted in the Korça region of Albania for the first time. The program targeted rural youth, women, and individuals with lower levels of formal education, groups that are traditionally underrepresented in agricultural entrepreneurship. Using a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and in-depth interviews conducted over a six-month period, the study monitored 31 participants to evaluate skill acquisition, socioeconomic impacts, and behavioral changes. The results revealed that over 90% of the participants continued to actively practice beekeeping after the training and successfully managed the provided colonies, with the majority regularly applying the knowledge gained, particularly in hive maintenance and daily routines. This suggests a sustained practical effect within the pilot context. Women comprised 29% of the participants, representing progress in a historically male-dominated sector. Despite having only a secondary education or less, 45% of the trainees demonstrated their ability to apply new techniques and maintain hive stability effectively. The program also promoted environmental awareness and interest in sustainable rural entrepreneurship. Some participants began experimenting with value-added products, such as propolis, indicating early signs of innovation and diversification. These findings suggest that beekeeping training may contribute to rural engagement and inclusion-oriented initiatives, particularly by engaging youth and supporting greater gender participation in agricultural activities. The Korça pilot indicates that modest, targeted interventions may help strengthen skills, confidence, and engagement among vulnerable rural groups. While based on a single-site pilot, the results point to the potential of beekeeping training as an entry-level approach that could inform future initiatives in other regions of Albania.