Recep Karka, a 72-year-old retired miner living in Devrek, started beekeeping in 1983 with…

Recep Karka, a 72-year-old retired miner living in Devrek, started beekeeping in 1983 with three hives and now manages 140 hives. He earns his living entirely from beekeeping and has been exporting his natural honey for 40 years to Europe, Dubai, Russia, as well as Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara, and nearby provinces.

Karka's interest in beekeeping began in childhood. He attended a one-month beekeeping course at Hacettepe University, where he was taught by Prof. Dr. Kadriye Sorkun and Prof. Dr. Aslı Özkırım. After retiring from the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise in 2001, he pursued beekeeping professionally.