Güncel KAYNAKİHA HABER GİRİŞ 06.08.2024 08:57 , 06.08.2024 09:07 SON GÜNCELLEME 06.08.2024 09:07

Honey harvest has begun in the honey forests of Artvin

In Artvin, one of Turkey's richest provinces with 2,727 plant species, honey harvest has begun in Kokolet Valley, one of the 20 honey forests established by the Forest Regional Directorate. Beekeepers expressed their satisfaction with this year's honey yield and quality.

The 20 honey forests established by the Artvin Forest Regional Directorate to promote beekeeping and support organic honey production have become a significant source of income for the local community.

Beekeeping in Artvin is carried out meticulously with 2,727 plant species. Honey harvest has started in the honey forests located in Kokolet Valley, which is part of the Murgul district. The honey produced from the Caucasian bee breed has been extracted from the hives. In addition to the local community and beekeepers, the honey harvest was attended by Özgür Balcı, the Director of Ecosystem Services Department of the Forest Regional Directorate, Mimar Sinan Özkaya, the Forest Regional Director, and İbrahim Durmuş, the President of the Beekeepers Union. İbrahim Durmuş, the President of the Artvin Beekeepers Union, stated that honey forests provide a significant additional income source, especially for forest villagers, and expressed that beekeeping has improved the living standards of forest villagers. Durmuş said, "When you mention Kokolet, honey should come to mind. Murgul Kokolet Valley is a rare valley. It has only one entrance. There is no agriculture or spraying here. It is a place left to nature. Our quality honeys are produced in this region.

"People come from Istanbul and Izmir to buy their honey from here"

"The endemic plant diversity of Artvin exists in Kokolet Valley. Our honeys, such as chestnut, blueberry, blackthorn, linden, and mixed honeys, are highlighted by the presence of endemic species like forest rose in the valley. We thank our beekeepers for living in this wild nature and feeding their bees," he said. İlker Turhan, who left his 25-year journalism career to start beekeeping in Murgul Kokolet Valley, stated:

"In this valley, the production of chestnut honey begins in the first week of August every year. The season has gone well, and we expect good things. We hope to reap the rewards of our hard work. Kokolet Valley is more diverse than other valleys in terms of endemism. The range of the Caucasian bee is 8 kilometers; that is, the bee is effective within 5 kilometers. The unique feature here is that it is a single valley, a village, and since it is close to the center of the valley and the plateau, the bee can gather nectar from all sides. Therefore, the aroma of Kokolet honey is a bit different. Chestnut honey is predominantly produced in Kokolet Valley. When you place the hives towards the plateau, we obtain production from the plateau and the white forest rose, which we call delibal. We produce flower honey in the village, and in higher areas closer to the plateau, we also obtain blueberry honey. I have had a 25-year career in journalism and television, and I am also a tradesman. When I heard that this job is a passion and connects you to nature, I laughed a lot. I have been doing this for 15 years. I left everything behind; my life became about bees. They are our mothers, fathers, and children. We spend all our time with them. I believe this work is a salvation for Artvin. I ask our state leaders to support the forest valleys and honey forests. I thank the General Directorate of Forestry, the Artvin Forest Regional Directorate, and our Management Directorates on behalf of the beekeepers and my valley. They really provide us with a lot of support in terms of space, equipment, and roads. They are always by our side."