Beekeepers’ products remain in storage due to low buy-out prices

This year’s products of beekepers are kept in storage and not released into the market because of low buy-out prices, Albena Markova, a beekeeper from Rousse region and Medved Mehmedov, a chair of Rousse Regional Beekeeping Union told BNT on December 12. They pointed out the low buy-out prices as the reason, which is BNG 3 per kilogramme of honey.

The producers from Rouse claim that their yields this year were low and insufficient to sustain a holding.

Albena Markova, beekeeper: Most beekeepers have not sold their product at all. Almost the entire 2019 crop is 80% kept in storage and not released into the market.

Ivan Kanev, beekeeper, member of the Advisory Council on Beekeeping at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry: The drop in the buy-out price to 3 BGN, 3,20 BGN is the wholesale price, which is ridiculous, which may put many farmers out of business.

Medved Mehmedov of the Regional Beekeeping Union believes that the lack of a commodity market for honey in Bulgaria is a serious issue.

Medved Mehmedov said that there is no way to continue beekeping unless there is a honey exchane and the state intervenes. With these honey prices, all beekeepers will have to give up. There is import from Argentina, China, which undercut our prices, he added.

According to the native beekepers, the Bulgarian acacia and lime honey are unique and have no analogue in the world. Due to its taste qualities, it is mainly bought by Romanian customers, who, however, require quality certificates.