National Day of Bee Keeper in Moldova: figures, data, projects, traditions

The National Bee Keeper’s Day is annually marked in Moldova on 19 August, in order to celebrate the work and role of bee keepers. In 2023, Moldova exported 1,715 tons of honey and the main sales markets were the ones of Europe and Asia.  

In 2023, the state invested 100 million lei in the apicultural sector  

According to data unveiled for MOLDPRES by the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry (MAIA), in the last year, the production of honey was of about 5,500 tons, similar to the one from 2022.   

MAIA’s data shows that there are 9.421 authorized bee keepers in Moldova (who hold the passport of bee garden) and 3,319 of them have legal form of activity.  

To back and promote the bee-keeping sector of Moldova, a parliament decision was elaborated for the establishment of the National Day of Bee, marked on 20 May. This initiative is aimed at promoting the consumption of honey in Moldova. In cooperation with the Environment Ministry, decision-makers ruled also to amend the normative framework, in order to allow bee-keepers place their beehives in forests for free during all the year.     

The BeeProtect.md  system – protection for bees and benefit for bee keepers   

Also, for the second year in a row, the farmers are obliged to register the works of treatment of the lands with phyto-sanitary products and fertilizers and the bee keepers – to register their bee families on an online platform. To this end, the information system, http://BeeProtect.md, was launched. The main goal is to diminish the risk of appearance of intoxications with phyto-sanitary products in bees.   

Deputy Prime Minister, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Vladimir Bolea stressed the importance of the exchange of information between farmers, bee keepers and authorities: ‘’The pollination of the agricultural crops is vital. Preponderantly bees participate in this process. For this reason, we attract attention to the need to protect them. We believe that we can improve the productivity of harvests and protect the populations of bees only through cooperation and communication.’’    

The information system was worked out at an initiative by National Association of Bee Keepers from Moldova, with the full involvement of MAIA, Associations of Farmers, National Food Safety Agency, Electronic Governance Agency, with the financial support provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity in Moldova Project.      

Bee Keeper’s Day traditionally marked through a specialized Fair

Tens of types of honey and apicultural products were displayed at the Bee Keeper’s Fair this year as well. The event was organized by the National Association of Bee Keepers from Moldova and the Association of Exporters of Apicultural Products of Moldova on 16-18 August. The fair is traditionally held on the occasion of the National Beer Keeper’s Day.       

Correspondent:  Lilia Grubii