Agricuture: Romania second in Europe for number of bee colonies

Romania ranks second in Europe for the number of bee colonies, after Spain, with a total of 2.3 millions, recording a honey production of 30,000 tons and an annual consumption of 1.2 kg/inhabitant, according to statistic data announced by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) at the National Honey Fair.   “In 2007 we had a production of 16,000 tons of honey and now we have almost 30,000 tons. We started with a consumption of 0.5 kg of honey per capita and now it is 1.2 kg/capita/year, said Gheorghe Tinel, the deputy general manager of the Farming Policies General Department in the Ministry of Agriculture.   The latter pointed out that the National Apiculture Program (PNA) had become attractive for the sector, since in 2007 the absorbtion degree was 17% and now it has been 100% accessed.Only 8,000 of total number of registered beekeepers (32,000) have accessed PNA funds, that is 25% of total.   “About 60 million euros, of which 30 millions coming from Brussels, are allocated until 2027 through the National Apiculture Program”, Tinel added.   Honey consumption in Romania of 1.2 kg/year/ capita, was contradicted by representatives of the Beekepers' Association of Romania (ACA) who say data are exagerate, real consumption bein 550 grams/capita/year.   “Probably that is because they did not export anyhting from Romania and supposed that the whole quantity was consumed in the country. That is the hiney stock which has not been consumed by Romanians yet. Most of the honey produced last year exists in stock with beekeepers because there are no sales markets as a result of the dumping created by China and Ukraine, at the level of sugar price of 5 lei”, said Razvan Coman, the representative of the Beekeepers' Association of Romania.   The ACA representative considers that solutions for the beekeeping sector should come from EU, as things are solved with difficulty in Romania.   “I consider that an anti-dumping regulation would be welcome. In fact it exists but should be applied. That will not happen as long as EU producers do not unite and do something in this respect. There are several countries which want that, besides Romania: Hungary, Slovenia, and maybe Bulgaria and Poland will be interested because they are honey exporters from EU to EU,”Coman explained.   Last but not least, the ACA representative said that in 2022 and 2023 the quantity of honey exported was about 10% of production, while imports have gone up.