Zarnigor Yakubova has been surrounded by bees for most of her life. Growing up in a small village in Boʻstonliq district, in the mountainous region of Uzbekistan, she helped her father with the family's beekeeping work. What began as a family routine became a skill she quietly carried with her into adulthood.

A passionate learner with strong language skills and plans to become a teacher, Zarnigor had always believed working in education would shape her future.

But everything shifted abruptly. Pregnant with her first child, she went through a divorce while also caring for her seriously ill mother. With no job opportunities in her village and no outside support, Zarnigor faced the daunting challenge of supporting her entire family on her own.

"The community I live in is very traditional. Here, divorce is seen as the woman's fault. No one ever says it, but everyone thinks it," she shares. "Gossip travels fast, and support is hard to find. But I didn't give up."

With few options and her studies on hold, she returned to something familiar: bees.

"I still remember when he [my father] harvested his first honey, maybe 10 or 15 kilograms. He bought us a small heart-shaped wooden gift. That's when I realized this work had value."

At first, she became involved in her family's hives. But the work was tough. Their equipment was outdated. They used to melt wax in large pots, which left impurities and increased the risk of disease.

Beekeepers from five surrounding communities had to share a single honey extractor, waiting their turn and often traveling long distances. When hives got sick, they had no tools to identify the issue or treat it early. Entire seasons of honey could be lost to disease outbreaks, and each delay meant lower yields and income.

In 2023, Zarnigor was approached by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to join the Leaving No One Behind project, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye. The project economically empowers rural women by providing them with access to agricultural knowledge, tools and peer networks.

Zarnigor was one of 48 women from Boʻstonliq district selected to receive support.

Through expert-led training sessions and a regional beekeeping festival, Zarnigor took her skills to the next level. The workshops covered practical methods for improving hive hygiene, identifying early signs of disease and managing colonies more effectively. Participants also learned strategies for feeding bees sugar syrup in early spring, when they are most vulnerable after winter, and ways to make their beekeeping more profitable and a sustainable source of income.

"I learned how to separate wax from honey, how to detect harmful insects just by observing the hives, and how to care for bees when they are starving after a long winter," she says.

The project also provided her family with their own wax melter and honey extractor. The change saved time, reduced disease risks and allowed her to work independently.

With access to this essential equipment and the right knowledge, Zarnigor was able to launch her own beekeeping operation. She now manages 40 hives and sells honey, wax, royal jelly and propolis directly from home to customers.

She is also helping her father adapt to modern tools, including setting up a blog to promote their honey products and share their story.

"I didn't realize how much we were losing until I learned the right way to do things," she says.

Beekeeping is traditionally considered a man's area of work in Uzbekistan. Until recently, Zarnigor had never met another woman beekeeper. "We all thought it was a man's job. Too risky, too hard," she says.

Through her example, however, Zarnigor is helping to challenge those stereotypes and change perceptions in her village. Several women who attended the training have now launched their own beehives, and more are turning to her for guidance.

The income from honey production and tutoring children in her spare time is helping Zarnigor work toward another important milestone. She is saving to buy a home of her own. "It is a small place, but it will be mine. That means everything."

Beyond the technical support, the project also created informal connections among rural women. A group created to stay in touch after the training became a valuable space to exchange ideas and encourage one another. "It is not just about tools or advice. We motivate each other and share our progress. It feels like a small community."

Through it all, she remains focused on the future. She hopes to open a branded honey shop and to raise her son with the same values that guide her work. "I want him to grow up to be someone important, someone who contributes to others, but also someone who knows where he comes from and appreciates what we have built."

What started as a way to get through hard times has grown into a successful business that not only sustains her livelihood but also empowers other women build lasting enterprises and achieve greater economic independence.

"I've faced judgment, illness in the family, poverty and isolation. But I'm still here, and I'm building a future for myself and my son, with bees, with my own hands, and with the belief that I am capable of more."

The story and photos can be found here: https://www.fao.org/newsroom/story/sweet-dreams-are-made-of-bees-in-uzbekistan/en