Nomadic roots, modern routes
Modern equipment and formation of a cooperative boost dairy production in Azerbaijan
After the establishment of the Eco-Milk cooperative, members specialized in livestock production streamline operations previously managed separately.
©FAO/Javid Gurbanov
“Tarakama” is the traditional nomadic pastoral lifestyle that guides the lives of Azerbaijani communities who move with the seasons. Mahammad Bayramov, originally from Aghdam, a small town in the centre of Azerbaijan, has lived this rhythm since he was a boy, traveling the country’s varied landscapes with his family’s livestock.
Every year, Mahammad’s family and five other families would band together to move their herds to the mountains. “The mountains are tough, the winds harsh and the animals can be restless. Alone, a family struggles to keep the animals all in one place, but together it is easier to look after them,” Mahammad says.
Raised with livestock, Mahammad and his community have long depended on animals as their main source of income. Moving around together solidified bonds among herding families, fostering collaboration that laid the foundation for their future cooperative. Together, they established Eko-Süd (Eco-Milk), chaired by Mahammad, with the aim of maximizing the production of milk and other dairy products.