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Current Trends in Moldavian Beekeeping. Beekeeping Project of ORDSE in Moldova supported by IPHD. Current Situation in Moldavian Beekeeping Hives (Bee families) Number. 1991 – 250,000. 2001 – 65,000; 2002 – 75,000; 2003 - 85,000; 2005 – 90,000; 2006 – 105,000.
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Current Trends in Moldavian Beekeeping Beekeeping Project of ORDSE in Moldova supported by IPHD
Current Situation in Moldavian Beekeeping Hives (Bee families) Number • 1991 – 250,000. • 2001 – 65,000; 2002 – 75,000; 2003 - 85,000; 2005 – 90,000; 2006 – 105,000. • Melliferous resources allow to develop industrial beekeeping up to 500,000 hives. • Annually up to 200 hectares of melliferous plantations (acacia and linden tree) are planted by Forestry Department. • In conclusion: Enough melliferous resources. Stable tendency to increase the number of hives.
Honey Production per Hive • 2000 31.10 kg/hive • 2001 33.61 kg/hive • 2002 30.53 kg/hive (long winter, high mortality) • 2003 25.65 kg/hive (drought summer). In conclusion: • Such productivity - one of the highest in the world – can be obtained only by good professionals. • Moldavian beekeepers have relatively good weather conditions - in a warm and calm summer day it is possible to obtain up to 10 kg/hive.
Moldavian Honey ExportDistribution in 2002 • United States 50% • Romania 22% • Germany 15% • Italy 9% • Czech Republic 4%. • The world average price – 2.060 – 2.300 USD/t. • In conclusion: Unexplored Western and Russian markets. The average price in Russia – 5800 USD/t in little jars.
Long Term Perspective Markets • Germany Market with total volume of 450,000 t. Moldavian market share – 0.02%. Little glass or plastic jars are asked. Moldavians export non-processed and no name honey in bulk. • Saudi Arabia – local production covers 2% of consumption. Their consumption – 1 kg monthly per family – increases significantly in Ramadan. High quality honey packed in little jars also is required. The price can be up to $190/kg (honey from Yemen).
Internal Honey Consumption in Moldova • Internal consumption decreases permanently due to the increasing tendency to export more. • Considering consumption in Germany – 6kg, Ukraine – 0.97 kg local Moldavian market has an essential potential. • Production doesn't cover export and local necessities.
Strengths of Moldavian Beekeeping • Enough melliferous resources. • Spread ecological areas and organic crops. • Good weather conditions. • Old traditions in beekeeping. • Skilled beekeepers in every locality. • Relevant scientific potential. • Low transportation costs to the main markets – Europe and Russia. • Low processing and manpower costs.
Weaknesses of Moldavian Beekeeping • The absence of industrial honey production. • Low profitability of solitaire producers doesn’t allow them to compete on western market and cover internal necessity. • No honey processing facilities – low income from sold honey. • Outdate technologies negatively influence honey quality and expenses of producers. • Most of beekeepers are focused only on honey production forgetting about other produces of the hive. All the producers are in the same market niche. • No publicity and brand names. • No integration in western distribution networks. • High rate of old beekeepers – doesn’t exist an apiculture college.
Opportunities in Moldavian Beekeeping • To develop organic honey production in ecological areas. • To organize collection and processing of other beekeeping produces: royal jelly, propolis, bee venom, pollen. • To organize large bee yards with the aim of agriculture crops pollination. The income from pollination usually are higher than from honey. • To organize honey packaging for export. • To involve some apiaries in travel tours. • To increase the number of young professionals involving apiculture scientists in wide vocational training activities.
Threats in Moldavian Beekeeping • Involution in production - Small number of new beekeepers. • Losses of main markets – Non competitive production – Out to date technologies. • Degeneration of local species Apis Mellifera Carpatica – Low selection work.
Production Potential ofMoldavian Beekeeping • Honey 15 – 20 th. m. t. • Propolis 10 m. t. • Pollen 20 m. t. • Royal Jelly 10 – 12 m. t. (20 – 25 th. of adult doses). • Bee Venom 1500 kg.