Agriculture Ministry denies that 20% of bee colonies may die of starvation

The head of the Agriculture Ministry’ Animal Breeding Market Policy Division Vitalie Ciobanu said the assertion that every fifth family of bees may die from starvation until the new honey harvest is exaggerated. Recently, the chairman of the National Association of Beekeepers Stefan Condratiuc told Info-Prim Neo that last year’s drought hampered the gathering of honey and the bees simply die of starvation. “Two weeks ago, I checked my 25 beehives. I didn’t see dead bees. They have plenty of reserves. If the bees finish the reserves of honey, the beekeepers can purchase special food to feed them,” Vitalie Ciobanu told the Agency’s reporter. He also said that he discussed with other beekeepers and only one of them said he lost a bee colony, while the others didn’t complain. “Maybe I was lucky and my bees collected more honey. However, if some of the beekeepers want to maintain several hundred beehives, they must realize the risks and acquire food when there is a drought,” stated Vitalie Ciobanu. The chairman of the National Association of Beekeepers Stefan Condratiuc said that according to preliminary information, 20% to 30% of the families of bees will die until the new honey harvest, but the situation will be clearer towards the end of March. According to the National Association of Beekeepers, in Moldova there are about 5,000 beekeepers.