Moldova aligns with international bee protection initiatives

Chisinau, May 22. /MOLDPRES/- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA), the National Food Safety Agency and the USAID Moldova Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity signed a Memorandum of Understanding on development of the BeeProtect digital solution. The event was held on World Bee Day, celebrated every year on May 20.
BeeProtect has become a mandatory communication tool for beekeepers and farmers, reducing the risks of poisoning bees with phytosanitary products. The BeeProtect.md system is a platform for communication and mutual information of agricultural producers and beekeepers regarding the spraying of agricultural crops and the placement of beehives near cultivated land.
"What characterizes the honey produced in Moldova is the quality and taste of this product, therefore I encourage all actors in the sector, as well as development partners, to participate in creating the conditions for the development of the beekeeping sector and ensuring the quality of honey, including by replicating good practices ", MAIA state secretary Iurie Scripnic said.
For his part, John Riordan, acting head of USAID Mission to Moldova emphasized the importance of the beekeeping sector, which has a considerable impact on other economic sectors, and the development of the BeeProtect.md digital platform is a solution for protecting bees and essential element for the transformation of the agricultural sector.
According to beekeepers, currently in Moldova there are multiple risks for the health and life of bees, such as the use of unregistered phytosanitary products, inefficient communication between farmers and beekeepers, reduction of the areas of forests and pastures with honey plants etc.
Currently, over 260 thousand bee families are registered in the Republic of Moldova, cared for by about seven thousand beekeepers. Bees are the main pollinators for agricultural crops, but also for spontaneous flora, with an important role in biodiversity. Experts confirm that pollination of agricultural crops can increase yields by up to 40 percent.
Photo: MAIA