Kamenovo

Kamenovo exists because the Homolje Mountains' pristine forests produce exceptional nectar flows. Monks from nearby Vitovnica Monastery introduced apiculture in the 14th century, initiating a knowledge transfer that would define the village's economic identity for seven centuries. Today, Kamenovo holds the record—in both former Yugoslavia and present-day Serbia—for beehives per capita: 2.3 hives per inhabitant, with some households maintaining over 500 colonies.

The 1467 Braničevo record documents villagers paying Ottoman tribute in honey rather than coin—evidence of specialized production predating formal markets. This represents extreme niche construction: rather than diversifying across crops, Kamenovo concentrated on a single high-value product, accepting the risks of monoculture for the benefits of expertise accumulation. The strategy created path-dependence; skills and infrastructure optimized for apiculture make agricultural pivots increasingly costly.

The village's location in Petrovac na Mlavi municipality places it in the Homolje range—Carpathian-Balkan mountains reaching 962 meters at Oman peak, with some of Serbia's cleanest drinking water sources. This geographic isolation protected product quality but limited market access. The annual 'Days of Mlava-Homolje Beekeepers' festival now attracts visitors from across Serbia and the region, converting apicultural heritage into tourism revenue.

Kamenovo erected a monument to bees—unusual civic recognition of an economic partner species. In 2026, the village's trajectory depends on whether artisanal honey commands premiums in Serbian and EU markets (geographic indication protection could transform margins), or whether industrial honey imports and colony collapse pressures undermine the economic foundation that has sustained this community since medieval monks first taught villagers to keep bees.