Amid the constant buzz of thousands of bees and the scent of blooming flowers, Behexhet Ruda begins the same daily routine he has followed for more than 43 years. In the village of Shushicë, near Elbasan, the 66-year-old beekeeper tends to his hives with the same dedication that began in childhood, when he accompanied his father while working with bees. For him, beekeeping is far more than a profession or a source of income—it is a way of life.
“I’ve been keeping bees since 1983. My passion started because I grew up with bees at home. When I was four or five years old, I would always follow my father. He would tell me to stay away so I wouldn’t get stung, but I loved being around them. After my father became ill and passed away at a young age, I wanted to continue what he had started. At the time, though, I couldn’t afford it. A single beehive cost 300,000 old lek, while we earned only 80 lek a day. For me, this has always been about passion more than profit,” Ruda said.
For Ruda, the true value of beekeeping is not measured by the amount of honey produced, but by the joy of working with bees and the natural environment that sustains them. He says every day spent among the hives strengthens the bond he has with his lifelong passion.
“It’s like someone who goes fishing every day, not because they want to eat the fish, but because they enjoy fishing. I’m the same way. My passion isn’t eating honey—it’s the bees and nature. I feel happiest when it rains and when the flowers bloom, because that’s when the bees can forage,” he explained.
Despite his love for the craft, beekeeping comes with significant challenges. According to Ruda, the greatest threat is not rising temperatures but Varroa mite infestation (varroosis), a disease that can spread rapidly unless all beekeepers in an area treat their colonies at the same time.
“High temperatures are harmful, but they’re not the biggest danger. The most serious threat is a disease called varroosis. It has to be fought collectively. If one beekeeper treats their hives but another doesn’t, the mites spread through the flowers, attach themselves to the bees, and the infection returns,” he said.
Although the challenges have increased over the years, Ruda says he has never compromised on quality. Honey produced from his hives has reached international markets, and he believes the natural production process is the main reason Albanian honey continues to be appreciated abroad.
“Yes, I’ve sent honey abroad—to Greece, for example. They produce plenty of honey there, but they still ask for ours. Others have exported it to Italy and Germany as well. It’s because it’s natural and genuine. If I wanted to cut corners, I could have expanded to 200 hives in just two years, but that’s not what I believe in,” the beekeeper said.
As the sound of buzzing bees fills his yard, Behexhet Ruda remains convinced that the future of beekeeping depends on people who see it as a lifelong mission rather than simply a way to earn a living.
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