The first edition of the Banja Luka Honey Days festival officially opened on October 23, bringing together 18 local honey producers who will showcase and sell their products through Sunday, October 25. The event aims to promote domestic beekeeping, support local producers and encourage consumers to choose locally produced honey.
Goran Bursać, Assistant Minister of Agriculture of Republika Srpska, emphasized the importance of strengthening support for beekeepers and expanding similar events across local communities.
“The Ministry will do everything possible to further increase incentives for beekeeping. It is important that we continue moving forward and organize more events like this in local communities,” Bursać told reporters in Banja Luka.
Around BAM 100,000 allocated to support beekeeping
Bojan Pećanac from the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development said approximately BAM 100,000 had been allocated this year for subsidies supporting bee colonies.
Beekeepers have also received assistance with purchasing equipment needed for honey production.
“We have excellent cooperation with all beekeepers in the Banja Luka area, and the culmination of that cooperation is Krajina House, where we present their products in a high-quality way,” Pećanac explained.
The initiative is intended to strengthen local agricultural production and provide beekeepers with better opportunities to promote and market their products.
Beekeepers warn about questionable quality of imported honey
Darko Marković, President of the Association of Beekeepers’ Organizations of Republika Srpska, emphasized that the region produces high-quality honey that deserves greater recognition and market access.
He expressed concern about large quantities of imported honey, some of which he claimed was of questionable quality.
Marković also outlined plans to establish dedicated beekeeping centers and a beekeeping museum.
“We envision opening beekeeping houses and a beekeeping museum, with facilities near every major city or regional center where young people could learn about honey production,” Marković said.
Tomo Vujasin, President of the Banja Luka Beekeepers’ Association, also raised concerns about counterfeit honey.
He claimed that some imported products were so extensively processed or manipulated that even chemical testing could struggle to identify adulteration.
“The most important thing is trust. If you trust your beekeeper, you can be confident that you are getting a genuine product,” Vujasin said.
He added that the Banja Luka area has approximately 350 registered beekeepers managing around 20,000 beehives.
City encourages residents to support local producers
Aleksandra Simić from the Banja Luka City Administration emphasized the city’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, small businesses and tourism.
She said events such as Banja Luka Honey Days provide an opportunity to promote local products while strengthening connections between producers and consumers.
Simić invited residents and visitors to explore the festival stands and experience the quality of locally produced honey firsthand.
The inaugural Banja Luka Honey Days festival will continue through October 25, offering visitors an opportunity to meet local beekeepers and purchase their products directly.
Source: Glas Srpske
