Since the family needs the income, she decided to support her husband in his beekeeping activities. They hope to find a good market for the production of their apiary, so that she can give up her current job outside the farm. But the future development is still too unsure to make this decision now.
Dragica sees beekeeping as an opportunity for income as a result of hard work, not as an adventure. “At first I thought it to be an activity only for old men, but no: it is hard physical work!” Because of the beekeeping school she got access to the information and experienced the practices of new methods. She thinks the school was well organized: the combination of theoretical lessons and practical support was important. Dragica would like also to follow the next course (experienced beekeepers), and she wants to know more about harvesting royal jelly and marketing: “In a good year it will not be possible to sell all honey directly to our customers and we’ll be forced to sell at a lower price to wholesalers. The shopkeepers do not have the same interests as the beekeepers. Setting up our own marketing asks for time and energy.”
Anyway, they are doing well. After a heavy storm in winter 2011/2012 her husband lost almost all (80%) of their bee colonies. But they now have a good harvest of 20 kg/hive from 80 hives. Last year, they bought three selected queens and used them to improve their own bees. Now they also produce pollen, royal jelly, propolis and wax. They plan to grow from 80 to 200 hives. When they reach 100 hives, she thinks it will be time to organise the marketing together with others.
Dragica doesn’t think beekeeping is more difficult for women then for men. But difficult it is, and she advices others not to start with too many hives. 10 hives in the first two years is OK, because that allows one to acquire the proper knowledge and practical experience without taking too many risks.
