Supporting the beekeeping sector is a strategic interest

By: STA Date: 2025. 05. 20. 09:30

Supporting the beekeeping sector and maintaining the interest in beekeeping at an appropriate level is a national strategic interest. The Ministry of Agriculture has paid special attention to the sector, which it intends to maintain in the Strategic Plan for the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) until 2027, as well as in the national support system, said Imre Hubai, the State Secretary for Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, at the handover of the educational trail called “Buzzing Promenade” on Tuesday on the occasion of World Bee Day.

(Photo: AM/Tibor Vermes)

At the event held in Környe, Imre Hubai highlighted that the economic and social role of beekeeping goes beyond agriculture: it contributes to the population retention power of the countryside and to the supply of healthy food. Among other things, supporting the sector is a priority for this reason. He explained that within the Common Agricultural Policy, an annual budget of 3.12 billion forints is available for the beekeeping sector from 1 January 2023 to 1 December 2027. 31. This means a non-refundable subsidy of 15.6 billion forints for the sector over 5 years. He reminded that Hungary was the first country in the European Union to introduce animal welfare support for bees. This call received more than 5,100 requests for funds from farmers this spring, in which support was requested for a total of more than 510,000 bee colonies. The total requests for one year reach 5.8 billion forints. The ministry, taking into account the situation and needs of beekeepers, supports the fund applications of all farmers who are formally compliant and comply with the necessary requirements thanks to the reallocation of funds. During the five-year initiative, the sector can receive a total of 29.3 billion forints, he added.

According to the Secretary of State, the sector is in particular in need of all available funds, as there were large losses in the winter

Almost half of the bee colonies that wintered last fall were not able to return by spring died. Since the winter destruction was great throughout Europe, the Ministry of Agriculture reported the problem to the European Commission, he said. Imre Hubai then underlined: there is ongoing cooperation with the National Hungarian Beekeeping Association in order to help the sector players get through these difficult times. He also mentioned that the educational trail handed over to Környe was implemented from the funds of the Common Agricultural Policy’s title for supporting the beekeeping sector, which was included in the support system thanks to the government’s decision. The 10 interactive stations of the educational trail provide an opportunity for as many people as possible to learn about the work of pollinators, especially honey bees, which is indispensable in our lives.