The bees of Azerbaijan go hightech

Isgandar Shiralizada’s passion for all things related to bees and honey began as a child at his family home in Bilasuvar, a town in the southern region of Azerbaijan. His mother made a delicious variety of honey-based desserts, especially the popular, local sweet pakhlava, with its honey-soaked layers. These delectables sparked Isgandar’s curiosity about the creatures that produced the honey.

“Every spoonful of honey was a mystery to me, making me wonder about the bees and their world,” he recalls.

Isgandar fondly remembers when every winter, his mother would buy three kilograms of honey from a neighbor, and he would tell her, “One day, I will keep bees, and we will have our own honey.”

This childhood dream set the foundation for his future in the honey sector.

Starting in his early twenties, Isgandar and his mother invested in their first bee colony. This modest start gradually expanded, with both his beehives and skills growing year by year.

He received mentoring by Hikmat Aliyev, a renowned beekeeper in this area of Azerbaijan, who taught him the art and the hidden secrets of beekeeping. He also attended several training courses in the country and abroad. In Türkiye, Isgandar joined local beekeepers for sessions on market access and the formation of cooperatives, and there he also gained practical experience in innovative beekeeping techniques.

Isgandar’s career truly flourished after he joined a course offered by the UN’s FAO, funded by the Government of Azerbaijan. This initiative, part of the “Increasing Youth Employment in Agriculture” project, equips young men and women in rural areas with the skills necessary for careers in agriculture, focusing on agribusiness and entrepreneurship development.

In a country where over a quarter of the population is aged between 14 and 29, youth employment presents a major challenge in rural areas. Agriculture is a vital sector for Azerbaijan, employing 36.3 percent of the workforce and providing significant household income in rural areas.

One of the major reasons for youth unemployment in rural areas is limited education or professional skills, coupled with restricted access to entrepreneurship opportunities and services.

“Enhancing employment for rural youth and women through training and agricultural support is vital in Azerbaijan, helping to combat intergenerational poverty and promoting social and gender inclusion,” said Nasar Hayat, an FAO Representative in Azerbaijan.

 

For Isgandar, FAO’s support was a catalyst that transformed him from a local beekeeper into an innovator in the field.

He devised the “Smart Bee Houses” that he presented at TechnoFest, a prestigious technology festival held in Türkiye. These bee houses are innovative devices that are designed to combat bee diseases and optimize honey production. Through sensors placed inside the bee house, beekeepers can monitor for varroa mites, humidity and hive weight through an application that alerts them of issues without the need for physical intervention, setting a new standard in beekeeping practices.

The FAO project also equipped Isgandar with essential agricultural tools to enhance his business, including a water tank and pump to ensure a steady water supply for his bee gardens. This setup contributed to the health of his gardens, significantly improving both the quality and quantity of his honey production.

With the increased earnings, Isgandar expanded his number of beehives to 60.

“Before the project, I could only produce up to one ton of honey each year, but now, my production has doubled to two tons annually,” Isgandar proudly shared.

With the backing from FAO, he has not only become economically independent, but in turn, FAO found in Isgandar the perfect ambassador to engage youth and share his passion for beekeeping with the next generations.

With a wealth of international experience, Isgandar wished to teach others what he learned.

“I want to become a mentor; I can’t keep this all to myself,” he exclaims.

He found an opportunity to share his knowledge through a beekeeping training programme at the Bilasuvar Vocational Lyceum.

Isgandar currently gives a course for aspiring young beekeepers, where he imparts everything from the essentials of beekeeping to the use of innovative technologies to combat bee diseases.

“The excitement of young people about beekeeping makes me really happy, and I see it as my job to help them love and appreciate this work,” Isgandar says.

“Every day I’m equipping students with vital skills, preparing them to be the next generation of beekeepers who can contribute to enhancing the agricultural sector in Azerbaijan,” shares Isgandar, who sees vast potential in his country and is committed to ensuring that young people see it too.

After teaching, he spends time at his farm checking on his bees or assisting other beekeepers in the area with their hives.

Isgandar sees his own children’s enthusiasm for apiculture as evidence of its appeal as a career for youth.

“My daughter Asmanur and my son Ismail love bees and bee products. They get excited every time I put on my protective suit,” he says. Though at age two and three, they are too young to join him now, their interest is undeniable. “They always ask when they can come with me to the apiary. Especially my daughter, she’s really eager to start.”

Isgandar believes introducing young people to beekeeping not only connects them with nature but also opens the door to sustainable and profitable career opportunities.

For ambitious young individuals, like Isgandar’s children and students, the beekeeping sector offers a viable and rewarding career in a field ripe for innovation and growth.