The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia has announced a public call for subsidies for beekeepers in 2025, following catastrophic damage to bee colonies caused by severe drought and excessive pesticide use. While state incentives are welcomed, experts say they are insufficient for beekeepers to recover and produce adequate honey this season.
Agroeconomists recommend increasing subsidies and providing one-time financial aid to help beekeepers rebuild their swarms. They also suggest introducing a temporary tax on cheap, often low-quality imported honey to protect domestic producers.
Bee mortality has been alarmingly high, with some regions experiencing up to 100% losses. This will likely result in lower domestic honey production, increased imports, and higher prices.
Subsidy applications opened on May 20 and run until June 20 via the eAgrar platform. Eligible applicants can receive 1,000 dinars per hive, with funding available for 20 to 1,000 hives per applicant, totaling 1.15 billion dinars.
Experts emphasize that beyond subsidies, education is crucial. Beekeepers should learn how to protect swarms, and farmers should be trained in pesticide use to minimize harm to bees. The state should oversee and sanction improper pesticide use.
Consumer advocates stress that subsidies must only go to beekeepers who can prove the quality and purity of their honey, to protect consumers and honest producers from counterfeit products. Subsidies should be tied to verified honey production rather than hive numbers to ensure quality.
