Baku - The work is in full swing at the kahriz (a traditional, sustainable water supply system) site located in the Aghdam district. Kankans (water engineers who build and maintain kahrizes) are completing preparations to start drilling the well. Among them, there are two kankans of different ages. They are a father and son who work side by side.

Father, Etibar Hasanov is a kankan of the older generation with over 20 years of experience. He started learning his trade under the guidance of his relative in the 1990s. Etibar says that kahriz is a wonderful type of water source that requires no pump to bring the water to the surface. There is enough pressure pushing the water through the tunnels that it flows on its own. That is why kahrizes have been used, repaired, rebuilt, and maintained by local people and communities for many centuries.

However, since the 1960s in Azerbaijan, with the expansion and popularity of groundwater extraction through artesian wells, kahrizes began to lose their place in groundwater technology. Many kahrizes have been abandoned in the rush to install newer equipment that could meet the growing needs. Because of this, attention to the kahrizes was reduced, they were not repaired and restored on time, and these systems were not properly maintained and protected by the local population. Together with kahrizes, the trade of kankans was getting lost. As a result, the kahriz systems in Azerbaijan fell into decay, and kankanks were forced to change their profession.

“But with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the exploitation of the artesian wells became expensive because they needed electricity to work. Therefore, many villagers began to repair kahrizes,” explains Etibar.

It was then that the demand for kankans increased. Working in a group, they gained experience and after several years they were transferring their skills to young kankans.

"When I found out that IOM Azerbaijan was implementing a project to renovate ancient kahrizes, I decided to join that project. The kankan profession was almost forgotten, and my experience came in handy," says Etibar enthusiastically.

Now Etibar is passing on to the next generation what he has learned from older kankans. One of the young kankans whom he is instructing is his son Tunar. They are currently employed at the same kahriz.

“It was a rewarding experience and I enjoyed working with my son and being able to provide some professional guidance and direction,” says the proud father.

Tunar, a 25-year-old man, was largely influenced by his father’s example when he developed an interest in the profession. He is reflecting on the huge role his father played in his career choice. “I was always amazed by the process of building and rehabilitation of kahrizes. And having someone this close to me that was able to show me exactly what I could be doing, helped tremendously in choosing my career path,” shared his story Tunar.

He further tells that kankans' work mostly underground and therefore care and safety measures must be taken. “Although our work is difficult and dangerous, I really like it. Because we give people water,” continues Tunar.

On the other side, new technologies and machinery that IOM Azerbaijan is providing to kankans make their work easier, safer, and more efficient. The modern equipment and technological approaches accelerate the rehabilitation works.

“The cutting-edge technologies that we are presently using facilitate our labour and save plenty of time. IOM Azerbaijan is also organizing trainings for us to learn how to apply the advanced technologies,” says the young aspiring kankan.

Thanks to the newest specialized machines such as vertical and horizontal drilling rigs, the work of kankans is not manual anymore, it also requires intellectual knowledge and skills. “And for this, we need to thoroughly study the technology,” states firmly Etibar, the father and a mentor of Tunar.

Restoring kahrizes, very ancient manmade tunnel systems that bring to the surface underground water, is one of the most crucial and timely activities undertaken by the IOM in Azerbaijan in regions of the country. The Mission has been rehabilitating kahrizes in Azerbaijan since 1998. Since that time more than 160 kahrizes in different regions of Azerbaijan were rehabilitated within various projects. Building upon IOM’s successful past experiences and unique expertise, the mission currently is implementing the “Integrated Rural Development for Internally Displaced Persons Communities in Azerbaijan through Revitalization of the Kahriz Water Supply System” project with the financial support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to provide safe and consistent water supplies for many families in regions through the renovation of kahrizes, a traditional, sustainable water supply system. As previous ones this project also continues to implement a community-driven approach, paying specific attention to cross-cutting issues such as gender, governance, and environmental sustainability.