Embassy Press Release

New Honey Processing Unit Opens at Apicola Deva

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Romania Agribusiness Development Program (RADP), has been providing assistance to the agriculture and agribusiness sectors since 2004. The program helps improve the competitiveness of Romania’s agribusinesses, particularly in the light of Romania’s imminent entry into the European Union. One sector in which the USAID RADP program has been providing assistance is the honey sector.

Romania has a long tradition of beekeeping and the production of honey and other apiary products. The sector is dominated by small, rural producers who maintain up to fifty hives. New, stricter health and sanitary regulations – in both Romania and the EU – will make it increasingly more difficult for these small beekeepers to compete. RADP assistance has focused on improving production methods, in particular with a change to organic production. So far, 200 beekeepers have or are currently making the changeover to organic methods. The demand for organic products, including honey, is very strong in Europe. Organic honey often commands a price premium of 40% over conventional products.

Other RADP assistance has focused on business management practices and on introducing the Apicola Association to export markets. Representatives of the of two beekeepers’ associations (Bacau and Deva) attended Biofach last year. Biofach is Europe’s largest international tradefair for organic products. Apicola Bacau signed a two year agreement for the sale of organic honey to a French firm. RADP will sponsor a second visit to Biofach in February 2007 where representatives of four associations will participate.

Through RADP, USAID has also recently financed the purchase of small processing units for Apicola Bacau and Apicola Deva. The processing units will permit the beekeepers associations to filter, homogenize, and package the honey of their members for both the domestic and export markets. The processing units will allow the beekeepers to increase their income by increasing the value added at the local level. The units will also give the beekeepers and the associations greater flexibility in marketing their products, since different buyers have different requirements as to the degree of processing and the type of container.

Apicola Deva inaugurated its processing unit at a ceremony at the Deva office at B-dul Decebal, bl.I, Deva on December 7, 2006. Participants at the ceremony included representatives of USAID, RADP, the County Council, the city of Deva, ANSVSA and DADR.

For more information, please contact:
Doina Cindrea
Agribusiness Specialist
(40-21) 310-6511

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