Photo from UNIAN
Over the eight months of 2020, Ukraine has sold over 30,000 tonnes of honey to the EU member states.
Ukraine has topped the list of honey exporters to the European Union, a Food and Agriculture Organization consultant reported.
"The volume of honey supplies from Ukraine to the EU in January-August 2020 increased by 16% (year-on-year), while that from China – decreased by 19%. Thus, Ukraine has become No 1 supplier of honey to the European Union," FAO consultant Anna Burka wrote on Facebook with reference to the European Commission data.
During the reporting period, Ukraine supplied 31,013 tonnes of honey to the region, which amounted to almost 30% of all EU imports.
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Background
By the end of 2019, Ukraine increased honey exports by 12.7%, to 55,600 tonnes, with a total output of 110,000 tonnes.
In the 2020 state budget, UAH 4 billion was allocated for the support of agricultural producers.
Of this amount, UAH 1.2 billion is provided for the loan compensation program, UAH 1 billion – for partial compensation of the agricultural machinery and equipment cost, UAH 1 billion – for support of livestock producers, as well as UAH 400 million – for gardeners and farmers.
As of October 22, 2020, Ukrainian beekeepers have applied for subsidies to maintain bee colonies totaling UAH 240 million, which is twice as much as the government foresaw.