It is with great pleasure that I am with you today at the press conference organised by the Rotary Clubs of Cyprus and the Bank of Cyprus for the announcement of the creation of the Centre for the Artificial Breeding of Queen Bees, named "Bee Life".
The importance of beekeeping both in the production of high nutritional value products and in providing basic or supplementary income to a large number of families in Cyprus is well known. However, the importance of bees for the natural environment is even greater, thanks to their contribution to the maintenance of ecological balance and biodiversity. It is indicative of the fact that 84% of plant species and 76% of food production in Europe depend on pollination by bees.
Recognizing this role of bees, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment implements various actions to support beekeeping through Community and national development programmes. As a key tool, the Beekeeping Programme, co-financed by the European Commission, supports actions aimed at improving the production and marketing conditions of hive products. In 2021, the amount of support has been increased from €200,000 to €340,000 per year.
Support to beekeepers is additionally provided through the agri-environmental measure of the Rural Development Programme for the harmonious coexistence with bee-eaters and for maintaining and increasing the number of beehives, a pioneering measure implemented for the first time in Cyprus. Also, beekeepers who practice nomadic beekeeping are provided support through the national plan for diesel fuel.
In addition, through the Strategic Plan 2023-2027, support is promoted for farmers to plant beekeeping plants around or on embankments or terraces of their plot, in order to increase pollinator populations.
The above measures, as the figures show, have brought positive results for beekeeping in our country, since the total number of hives, from about 43,000 in 2016-2017, exceeded 58.In 2021, an increase of 35% in five years, with a simultaneous increase in annual production of domestic honey from 246 to 660 tons.
Like any agricultural sector, beekeeping is highly dependent on the prevailing climatic conditions. And in adverse conditions the State must be able to act promptly and effectively by taking those measures that will allow our farmers to continue their activity. For this very reason, the Ministry of Agriculture has submitted a proposal, which will be discussed at tomorrow's meeting of the Council of Ministers, according to which our beekeepers will receive exceptional aid of 380 thousand euros to enable them to cope with the difficulties caused by the weather conditions that prevailed last winter and to continue their work.
Friends,
We all witnessed the devastating fire last summer, which caused loss of life, destruction of infrastructure and significant damage to agriculture and the environment in the region. We are convinced, however, that with a collective effort we can not only restore, but also enhance both agricultural activity and the natural landscape in the area. But the restoration of agricultural activity and the natural landscape is intertwined with the restoration of the beehives, 75% of which have been destroyed by the fire.
Our Ministry has supported the farming community in the region through a number of measures involving the restoration of rural infrastructure and support for affected farmers, including beekeepers.
The Government's efforts have been supported in many ways by the private sector with many voluntary initiatives. One of the typical examples of support is the establishment of the Centre for Artificial Breeding of Royal Bees which aims to restore the environment and enhance entrepreneurship in the area. For this very reason I would like to congratulate and thank the Bank of Cyprus and the Rotary Clubs of Cyprus for this initiative.
In conclusion, I would like to assure you that the Government's policy of supporting beekeeping will continue unabated in the coming period, because we fully understand the multidimensional benefits of this policy.
(NΓ/IK)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
