Damage to apiaries in the Federation exceeds half a million marks

The damage to apiaries in the Federation of BiH caused by the floods that hit BiH during May, according to current data from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, exceeds half a million marks, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

In floods and landslides in the FBiH, the loss of about 1,200 beehives has been reported so far. Direct damages to beehives and bees exceed 300,000 KM. Indirect damages that will occur because these bees will not produce honey and other bee products could also exceed about 300,000 KM.

The highest number of reports of damaged beehives is in the Tuzla Canton, 441 beehives, and Posavina Canton, 430 beehives.

- In Posavina Canton, about 14 percent of the total number of reported beehives were lost - the ministry announced.

Omer Žalić, director of "PIP BH", previously told the Patria news agency that due to a difficult year for beekeepers, he expects honey prices to increase by about ten percent. On the other hand, beekeepers fear that honey imports into BiH from other countries will significantly increase this year.

- BiH, in addition to the honey produced by our beekeepers, imports an additional about 300,000 tons annually. And that is honey that legally enters our country through BiH borders. However, that number is far greater because honey is also imported illegally. Given that our beekeepers currently do not have enough honey, imports could increase several times this year. Unfortunately, this increases the possibility of our customers being sold honey of questionable quality - beekeepers believe.

In addition to beehives, during May in the Federation, the loss of about 580 cattle, 670 sheep, 6,790 pigs, and 263,788 poultry was also reported, reports Patria.