The honey output estimated for 2007 will not exceed 10,000 tons because of the drought, compared to 17-20,000 tons in a normal year, according to the president of the Association of Honeybee Keepers in Romania (ACAR), Eugen Zorici.
"The honey production this year will be very low because of the extreme temperatures. Only small amounts of rapeseed honey and sunflower honey have been reported," he said, upon announcing financial assistance for honeybee keepers affected by the drought. He also said the Ministry of Agriculture had been asked to subsidize the acquisition of sugar, necessary to feed the bees in wintertime.
Honey consumption in Romania is some 100 grams per capita per year, which is 25 times smaller than the EU average of some 1.5 - 2.5 kg/capita. The country"s average production in the last few years was 19,000 tons per year, but Chinese competition is looming.