Berivans go to the plateau on three-wheeled motorcycles: Contributing to family income

Berivans start their shift at the first light of day and after completing their household chores, they head to the plateau 5 kilometers away on their three-wheeled motorcycles.

Returning home with the milk they milk from the sheep grazing on the plateau, the women contribute to their families' livelihood by selling products such as cheese, butter and yoghurt.

Naime Gök, a mother of five who came to Muş as a bride from Manisa, said that they travel every day on the back of a motorcycle to the rural area where the sheep are kept.

Gök, who stated that they milk twice a day, said, "I've been working as a berivan for five years. I drive the motorcycle. Our mothers used to come here on horses and donkeys. But we come by motorcycle. We travel 5 kilometers every day. After milking, we return to the village."

Ceylan Gök said, "It used to be difficult to come here. We had to ride horses and donkeys back and forth. Now we come by vehicle. We also carry our sick sheep in trailers."

University graduate Selen Gök, who has started animal husbandry, said the following: "We have small and large cattle. I'm mostly interested in the small cattle. I make cheese, butter, and clotted cream with the milk I milk, and I help my family. It's going well, we're happy. I don't have any future appointments. I'm thinking of expanding the herd. I started with 80 animals, but now I have 120. I'm aiming to increase it to 150."