Project overview:

The project helped Azerbaijan improve the productivity of local honey bees and train beekeepers to manage their colonies more effectively. The project has monitored and selected queens from the 100 best-performing colonies in which worker bees demonstrate high productivity and express highly desired Caucasian honeybee characteristics.

Key results of the project:

• Four Azeri beekeepers were trained on queen breeding and artificial insemination, morphometric identification of local bee races and production-related bee management.
• A total of 90 selected beekeepers and members of Beekeepers Association received two training courses on queen bee rearing.
• Two training courses on artificial insemination were organized for 12 beekeepers, and two training courses on queen bees’ diseases for 54 beekeepers.
• Two manuals were produced: Queen Bee Rearing (1 500 copies) and Beekeeping for Beginners (1 000 copies).
• 280 Caucasian Bee samples from 178 colonies were collected from apiaries of 28 villages in 14 regions of Azerbaijan. A small mitochondrial DNA study showed remarkable genetic variation which could be used for the characterization of Azerbaijan honeybees, and 125 colonies were recommended for the breeding apiary. 100 colonies identified as pure Caucasian bee were procured, 60 of which were placed in Apiculture Centre in Ganja, and 40 in the private apiary in Gagh.
• 150 queen bees were inseminated in the private apiary, and 30 queen bees in the Apiculture Centre. As a result, 94 queen bees (of 150) in the private apiary and 23 queen bees (of 30) in the Caucasus Breeding Stock laid eggs.
• Good relations were established with beekeeping associations, which were kept informed of project activities and were closely involved in training activities organized during the project.
• FAO supported the members of Beekeepers Association during the Traditional Honey Fair by producing visibility materials, such as roll-ups, brochures and stickers. The fair was It is expected that in organized to create a market for different types of honey, promote honey farming and raise awareness about the benefits of honey.