USK: Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Promise Aid to Beekeepers

Beekeepers from the Beekeepers' Association „Kesten“ from Cazin, which is considered one of the most active and largest beekeeping associations in the Federation of BiH, spoke on Wednesday with the Minister of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry in the Government of the Una-Sana Canton Dragan Polimanac about the problems burdening beekeepers in this part of BiH, reports the news agency Patria.

The beekeepers presented concrete proposals to Minister Polimanac on how to improve the development of honey production in the USK.

The meeting of beekeepers and the minister was also attended by the Prime Minister of USK Izudin Saračević.

Since honey is one of the few animal products that Bosnia and Herzegovina can export to the EU, the beekeepers pointed out the importance of resolving administrative barriers that prevent beekeepers from accessing the EU market.

They specifically highlighted the need for certification of a laboratory that could perform complete product control according to EU standards, which is the first prerequisite for exporting honey from BiH.

The beekeepers also warned the minister about the harmful aspects of new technologies in agriculture, the use of pesticides that kill bees, and unplanned deforestation, which disrupts the ecological system and destroys the forest for bees.

One of the greatest riches of USK, the beekeepers emphasized, is the chestnut forest. Beekeepers from Cazin have managed to brand chestnut honey because it has very specific properties compared to all other types of honey.

Prime Minister Saračević confirmed to the beekeepers that producers will have a partnership relationship in the new USK Government and appreciates their project-oriented thinking and sincere desire to help the canton.

Minister Polimanac and honey producers agreed in their thinking that honey production should be elevated to a higher level so that it can be considered an industry in the future. A major role in this, as well as in other areas of agriculture, will be played by associations so that production is no longer scattered and disorganized, and producers are without a common strategy.