Durdane Aktaş, a 39-year-old resident of Ankara, began beekeeping as a hobby during the…

Durdane Aktaş, a 39-year-old resident of Ankara, began beekeeping as a hobby during the pandemic with two hives, later expanding to a business of 180 hives with the support of her husband, İsmail Aktaş, 38. The family now produces one ton of honey annually. Durdane received two hives as a gift from a relative while in lockdown, and with İsmail's help, she transitioned from a balcony operation to a larger production area as the number of colonies grew.

The couple has benefited from beekeeping training and hive support provided by Ankara's Metropolitan Municipality, which has helped them increase their production capacity each year. Their operation now exceeds 180 hives, and with their sons' assistance, they continue to produce over one ton of honey annually.