The 4th Honey Festival was held in Topçuköy, Northern Cyprus

On October 5, the fourth annual Honey Festival took place in Topçuköy, İskele Municipality, Northern Cyprus, with the participation of officials, industry representatives, and local residents.

The festival, organized with the participation of the Topçuköy Beekeepers’ Association and the Northern Cyprus Beekeepers’ Union, began with the traditional lighting of an incense burner. The event was conducted by the Mayor of İskele, Hasan Sadıkoğlu, together with his wife, Özlem Sadıkoğlu.

Visitors were offered tastings of natural honey and products of beekeeping — pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and wax products. There were stands with local products and handicrafts. Organizers noted that Topçuköy provides about 25% of the region's honey supply; according to the association's chairman, Derviş Osum, the local beekeeping tradition is 133 years old.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, ministers of interior, education, and labor, as well as mayors of several municipalities and the district governor of İskele. President Ersin Tatar and opposition leader Tufan Erhürman also attended.

The chairman of the Beekeepers’ Union, Hasan Kozok, thanked the municipality and emphasized the importance of the newly established Queen Production Center for improving the quality and sustainability of production. The program included performances by the İskele Municipality folklore ensemble, groups from Famagusta, and musical numbers. The festival attracted a significant flow of visitors and, according to organizers, supported both producers and consumers.