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Beekeeping practices in Turkey

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2026-09-26 08:53 UTC → 2026-09-30 11:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Beekeeping operations in various Turkish regions are utilizing specialized and traditional methods to produce natural honey. In the Konya highlands, beekeepers are employing a custom-designed mobile truck equipped with a specialized rail system to transport 240 hives to high-altitude plateaus. To maintain natural standards, producers avoid sugar supplements, relying instead on local wildflowers like thistle and thyme. This method results in lower yields compared to industrial practices but ensures a chemical-free product. In the Van province, the Artos Women’s Cooperative is conducting traditional harvests at the foothills of Artos Mountain. Using willow-branch baskets sealed with mud, these beekeepers allow bees to build their own combs rather than using artificial ones. In the Gevaş district, members wearing pink protective clothing harvest black hive honey, as well as bee bread, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly. Local initiatives have contributed to a rise in female participation in the sector, with the number of female beekeepers in Van increasing from 79 in 2020 to 157 in 2026. Songül Güleç, president of the Artos Women’s Cooperative, noted the cooperative has grown from seven to ten members. Other regional producers are also scaling operations. In the Bahçesaray district of Van, beekeeper Muhlis Kızıl has expanded his business from 10 hives to 650 hives over 28 years. Operating at an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters without sugar supplements, Kızıl expects a harvest of approximately 3 tons of honey this year and exports roughly 90 kilograms annually to Germany.

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