Moldovan beekeepers produce about 5,000 tons of honey in 2018

Chisinau, 24 November /MOLDPRES/ - Moldovan beekeepers have produced about 5,000 tons of natural honey in 2018, The productivity per one family of bees was 23 kg on average, by two kg less than in 2017, according to data by the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA).

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the head of ANSA’s zootechnic supervision service, Mihail Dobrojan, said that decision-makers of the institution had assessed the situation in the apiculture sector before the beginning of the cold season. As a result, they found out that most bee gardens were placed according to the requirements, had a sufficient quantity of food and were prepared for wintering. Decision-makers said that the state of bees was satisfactory.

Most honey produced in Moldova is exported. Thus, the export of honey from Moldova grew from 245 tons in 2006 to 3,440 tons in 2017. Moldovan beekeepers sell honey preponderantly in the European Union, as honey is one of the few animal origin products allowed to be exported to the European market. In four years of implementation of the Free Trade Agreement with EU, the export of honey to EU has increased 2.2-fold, according to data of a study made by Expert Grup.      

Since early 2018, Moldovan beekeepers have exported about 2,700 tons of honey in all. An ANSA head of service, Alexandru Donica, told MOLDPRES that most Moldovan honey had been exported to Romania – 492 tons, Italy – 465 tons, France – 357 tons, Germany – 319 tons, Poland and Slovakia – by 300 tons.  

There are more than 6,800 bee gardens with about 225,000 bee families in Moldova.