The production of honey fell by half this year because of the drought in western regions of the country and of the excessive rains registered in southern regions, and the price of honey has already climbed by 10-15 per cent, Ioan Fetea, the President of the Romanian Beekeepers’ Association (ACA), stated.
“This year we obtained at national level only 50-60 per cent of the annual production of honey, and the price has already risen by 10-15 per cent against the backdrop of the 35-40 per cent hike in the beekeepers’ prices for some products. The western and central parts of the country were affected by drought and in other areas the failure to meet production targets appeared because of excessive rains. In southern regions it rained during the period in which the acacia trees blossomed and in these conditions we obtained only 30 per cent of the annual average at national level, namely around 1,000 – 1,500 tons compared to an annual production of 4,000 – 5,000 tons of acacia honey. The linden honey produced represents only 30-35 per cent because rains overlapped almost all over the country, while sunflower honey reached 45-60 per cent depending on the areas. Only the Danube Floodplain registered a production of honey close to normal levels,” the ACA President explained.
Beekeepers have great expectations for the National Honey Fair that will take place at the Baneasa Beekeeping Platform on September 19-21, because the participants will come from areas that produced honey this year.
“Those who have a surplus of honey and did not sell it will come to the fair, however even if they have higher prices they will still be far below supermarket prices, besides the quality of the honey is guaranteed at the fair, it comes directly from the source, with no admixtures,” Fetea added.
Romania produces an average of 20,000 tons of honey each year, being on fourth place in Europe. Approximately 18,000 tons were produced last year.
Romania currently has 1.47 million beehives and around 40,000 beekeepers at national level, over 60 per cent of them being members of the Romanian Beekeepers’ Association (with over 900,000 beehives). The production of organic honey totaled 3,200 tons last year and the number of beehives certified in this system stood at 110,000.
ACA is an association set up in 1958, the only one at national level, and it has 40 county branches and commercial companies in order to supply beekeepers with all the equipments and genetic material needed.
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