27.06.2026 22:10
A 20-year-old university student, İsmail Gültekin, who returned to his grandfather's old neighborhood in Kayseri, which had to be abandoned 47 years ago due to a flood disaster, started beekeeping with 7 hives and has now increased the number to 50, aiming to produce over 1 ton of honey this season. Gültekin, whose life changed dramatically after starting beekeeping, said, "City life and salaried work are not for me. I wanted to do a job that I could leave whenever I felt bored."
İsmail Gültekin, a 20-year-old university student, returned to the neighborhood his grandfather abandoned in the İncesu district of Kayseri and started beekeeping.
RETURNED TO ANCESTRAL LANDS FOR BEEKEEPING
After the flood disaster in 1979 in Şeyhşaban neighborhood, the residents moved with state assistance to a safe area 11 kilometers away. Gültekin, a second-year student in the Department of Garden Agriculture at Kayseri University Develi Hüseyin Şahin Vocational School, returned to his ancestral lands for beekeeping.
AIMS TO OBTAIN OVER 1 TON OF HONEY FROM 50 HIVES
Gültekin, who started beekeeping last year with 7 hives and now has 50 hives, aims to harvest more than 1 ton of honey this season from the hives he tends in his abandoned neighborhood, rich in plant diversity.
İsmail Gültekin said that 47 years ago, due to the flood disaster, his grandfather had to leave the Şeyhşaban neighborhood where he lived.
Explaining that his family later moved to another region with state support, Gültekin said he always had a longing for his ancestral lands and occasionally came to the abandoned neighborhood.
"I CAN MAKE TIME FOR MYSELF AND MY ANIMALS"
Stating that he does not like city life much, Gültekin said, "I couldn't leave this place, so I came back. I thought about what I could do on my own. Beekeeping is a job that doesn't require a large initial investment. I chose beekeeping. This year I have 50 hives. Although I had no goal of harvesting honey last year, I got about 200 kilograms of honey. This year, I expect around 1 ton 200 kilograms of honey from 50 hives."
"CITY LIFE AND SALARIED WORK ARE NOT FOR ME"
Gültekin continued his words as follows: "City life and salaried work are not for me. I also wanted a job where I could wake up in the morning and quit when I get bored in the evening. I want to have my own business. The care is easy, and I can make time for myself and my animals."
Noting that even though he continues to attend university, he believes he can achieve things, Gültekin stated that his family always supports him. Gültekin also added that the nature of the abandoned old village is very suitable for beekeeping.