Vladimir Antovski from Žilce, Tetovo, who was one of the participants of the two-day fair of honey and beekeeping equipment "Sweet days in Tetovo", says that it is possible to ensure the livelihood of a family of four by raising bees and making honey and honey products.

He is professionally engaged in beekeeping, i.e. breeding bees and production of honey and bee products. He says that it is certainly profitable, if all the possibilities that exist in beekeeping are used.

- My job is beekeeping, I live only from that, I don't do anything else. I have 500 bee families, and I can responsibly claim that it is paying off, given that this is how our family of four works, with beekeeping and preparation of bee products. Every job should be seen as profitable, profitable and should be used to the maximum, not just go for one product. Many beekeepers in our country think that a beekeeper is only a producer of honey. But honey is one of the products that the bee gives, it also gives a bunch of other products, from which different products can be made, such as propolis, powder, beeswax and the like. The beekeeper can also make combinations, as opportunities that he can market to increase the benefit and be profitable - says Antovski for MIA.

The main direction of sustainable and profitable beekeeping is to place beehives in multiple locations. This is necessary because honey yields are dependent on climatic conditions, so it is important to have bee colonies in several different geographical areas. This will avoid the situation of having small amounts. Antovski keeps bee families in six locations.

- In my settlement Žilce, I keep bee colonies in three places, that is, in the lowlands. Then in two places in Neprosteno or on Shar Planina and one location on Mount Zeden. The difference is that in different locations there are different pastures for the bees, so it differs from which place and how much honey will come out. We grow acacia honey in Žilce, and chestnut honey in Neprosteno. With a higher number of bees, you can't be on one pasture because it can be missed, the yield of that pasture can be messed up and you can't cover for that year. More pastures must be followed and that is the profitability of beekeeping. It is the so-called migratory beekeeping, something must work that year. If the acacia does not give, the meadow will give, if the meadow does not give, the chestnut will give, so that you are not left with empty hands or empty jars - says Antovski.

The lowest price of a jar of honey in the Tetovo region is 800 denars this year, which is 200 denars more than last year. The higher price is due to the spiral of price increases, first of all, in the repromaterials and equipment needed in beekeeping.

- I think that honey is not something expensive to buy, one jar of honey currently costs about 800 to 900 denars. A price that is solid for the current price increases. One jar of honey per month can meet the needs of a family of four. If we compare with other products, for example dairy products, where one kilogram of cheese can be eaten in three-four days, this is something that is consumed in smaller quantities and lasts for a whole month - said the Tetovo honey producer.

Fairs and competitions for honey quality, such as the one held in Tetovo recently, are a good opportunity to promote bee products, but also to share experiences in dealing with the problems faced by beekeepers.