Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
November 28, 2025 Economic development
Zarnigor Yakubova has lived side by side with bees for almost her entire life. She grew up in a small mountain village in the Bostanlyk district of Uzbekistan, and as a child, she helped her father tend the family apiary. By helping around the house, Zarnigor acquired a valuable skill that would prove useful later in life.
Zarnigor enjoyed learning, and was especially good at languages. She always imagined her life would be connected to education, and planned to become a teacher.
But fate decreed otherwise. She was forced to divorce while pregnant. At the same time, her mother became gravely ill and required constant care. There was no work for Zarnigor in the village, nor any support, and she had to figure out how to support her family on her own.
"In our village, traditional values are strong. Women are blamed for divorce. No one will say it to your face, but that's what everyone thinks," she shares. "Rumors spread quickly, and there's no help to be found. But I didn't sit idly by."
Considering that her studies had to be postponed, and she had little choice, Zarnigor took up a long-familiar craft – beekeeping.
"I remember the day he [my father] first collected 10 or 15 kilograms of honey. He bought us a small wooden heart as a gift. At that moment, I realized how valuable his work was."
At first, Zarnigor tried to run a family apiary, but progress was slow, largely due to outdated equipment. The Zarnigor family used large boilers to melt wax, a method that not only didn't ensure the purity of the product but also increased the risk of bee diseases.
Five surrounding beekeeping farms shared a single honey extractor, forcing them to patiently wait their turn, sometimes even traveling considerable distances. When the bees became ill, there was no way to determine the cause and take timely action. Disease outbreaks ruined entire honey harvest seasons, and with each setback, both productivity and profitability declined.
© FAO / U. Isaev
In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) invited Zarnigor to participate in the "Leaving No One Behind" project, supported by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The project aims to empower rural women economically by providing access to agricultural knowledge and equipment, as well as networking with other farmers.
Zarnigor became one of 48 residents of the Bostanlyk district who received assistance as part of the project.
A training course led by experts and participation in a regional beekeeping festival allowed Zarnigor to reach a qualitatively new level. Participants learned practical methods for improving the quality of hive cleaning, identifying early signs of disease, and more effective methods for raising and maintaining bee colonies. They also learned strategies for feeding bees with sugar syrup in early spring, when the bees are weakened after wintering, as well as approaches to increasing apiary profitability and generating a stable income from beekeeping.
"I learned how to separate wax from honey and identify pests simply by observing the hive. I also learned how to care for bees starved after a long winter," says Zarnigor.
As part of the project, her family also received their own wax melter and honey extractor. All these innovations and new knowledge save time, reduce the risk of disease, and give Zarnigor the opportunity to manage her apiary independently.
After acquiring basic equipment and useful knowledge, Zarnigor was able to start her own beekeeping business. Her apiary now comprises 40 hives, and Zarnigor sells homemade honey, wax, royal jelly, and propolis directly to her customers.
© FAO / U. Isaev
Zarnigor with his father and son at the family apiary.
She also helps her father use modern tools. To promote their honey products, they started a blog where they share their family history.
“I had no idea how much we were losing until I learned how to do it right,” Zarnigor admits.
In Uzbekistan, beekeeping is traditionally considered a male occupation. Until recently, Zarnigor didn't know a single female beekeeper. "We all thought it was a man's job. We thought it was too hard and too dangerous for a woman," she shares.
Zarnigor's example helps defy this stereotype and change established village attitudes. Several women who also attended the training course are now setting up their own apiaries, while others turn to Zarnigor for advice.
The income from selling honey and tutoring, which she does in her spare time, helps her achieve her next important goal: Zarnigor is saving up for her own home: "Small, but my own. That's very important to me."
The project isn't limited to technical assistance—it also fostered informal connections among rural women. Participants formed a group to stay in touch after the training, and now share ideas and support each other: "We not only discuss equipment and give each other advice, but also encourage each other and share our successes. Together, we can do anything."
All this helps Zarnigor focus on the future. She hopes to open a signature honey shop and raise her son, instilling in him the same values that guide her work: "I want him to grow up to be a valuable member of society, to care for others, but also to remember his roots and appreciate the legacy we've created."
At first, beekeeping was simply a way for Zarnigor to survive difficult times. Today, it's a successful business that not only feeds her family but also expands the boundaries of what's possible for other women, inspiring them to build successful farms and achieve economic independence.
"I've survived universal condemnation, the illness of a close family member, poverty, and isolation. But none of this has broken me. I'm building a future for myself and my son, relying solely on bees and my own strength—and on the belief that I can achieve more."
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