About 40 beekeepers from around the country today have displayed their products in the Opera Square at the twelfth edition of a fair organized traditionally to mark the Beekeepers Day. This year, the vendors say, the honey is a little bit more expensive as the weather conditions haven't been very favorable for apiculture, IPN reports.

Stefan Condratiuc, president of the National Association of Beekeepers, explained in the fair's opening that the low temperatures and continuous rains in the flowering period impeded nectar production, and this resulted in a 15-20% drop in honey output compared to a typical year with favorable weather. This explains the higher prices, especially for the acacia variety, which is the most demanded one.

Moldova each year produces about 3,000 tonnes of honey. Deputy Agriculture Minister Nicolae Olaru says that the Ministry gives special attention to this area, as honey is the only animal husbandry product that Moldova exports to the European Union.

There are multiple varieties of the sweet product at the fair, including the popular linden, acacia and wildflower honey. Prices range from 50 to 100 lei a kilogram. There are also other bee products, such as propolis, which sells for around 2 lei a gram, or pollen, which sells for 30-40 lei for 100 grams.

The fair will run until Sunday, August 21, opened between 09:00am and 7:00pm.