Eti Maden Encourages Beekeeping

Eti Maden Supports Beekeeping As part of the "Sweet Mining" project that Eti Maden has been running for approximately 2 years, aimed at reforesting exhausted mining sites while also supporting the local population, beekeepers in Emet, Kırka, Bigadiç, Bandırma, Hisarcık and Beylikova have been provided with hives. The honey produced in these hives is purchased by Eti Maden. Through this initiative, beekeeping is encouraged and economic support is provided to local residents.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez, quoted in the statement, said they had initiated such a project based on the principle that "where there are bees, there is life."

Dönmez continued as follows:

"Honey production is being carried out using endemic and aromatic plants in the region. During this process, we have supported the labor of women in villages near the mining sites, enabling them to contribute to their family budgets. We have partially achieved our goal. God willing, this snowball effect will continue to grow. Eti Maden has shown the entire world what sweet mining looks like."

Eti Maden General Manager Serkan Keleşer made the following remarks on the subject:

"The honey we purchase is used within the institution. We even give it as gifts to our customers abroad. At first, they cannot believe that beekeeping is done at a mining site. After tasting it, they ask 'Will you send more?'" he said.  

"We contribute to family budgets"

Şevike Kurnaz, one of the farmers who received hives from Eti Maden, said she has been engaged in beekeeping for 18 years. Noting that she sometimes cares for the bees together with her 4-year-old daughter Leyla, Kurnaz stated: "At first we sold to neighbors. Now for the past 2 years we supply to Eti Maden. We are very satisfied with this. They buy honey from neighboring villages. They are supporting us. With the money from that we are educating our children. We contribute to our family budget." İsmail Elmacı, who is engaged in beekeeping, said "Sweet mining is truly being practiced in Emet and the surrounding area. We demand that such initiatives be expanded throughout Turkey and that public and private sector companies support and take producers by the hand in their localities."   Source