The conditions and perspectives of apiculture in Hungary

Abstract

Today the low level of honey consumption (0.4 kg/person/year) and the unfavorable changes of consumer prices have led to profitability problems. This demission has also been increased by questions about this, ‘What will happen to Hungarian apiculture after our joining the EU?‘ The aim of study is to describe the present situation of Hungarian beekeepers and to make a proposal as to how Hungarian bee-keepers can keep up honey production after the accession. By analyzing and examining the topic, I have used data provided by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the Hungarian Apicultural Board, my own examinations and a comprehensive interview. If Hungarian bee-keepers want to survive they have to increase production for both home honey consumption and export. Only 50- 55% of the honey consumption of the EU is produced within the Union so the difference has to be imported. If we want to be potential competitors on the honey-market of the EU, we have to consider the changes in costs, structure, subsidies as well as in the composition and quality of honey products. The quality of Hungarian honey is much better than that of the one produced in the other member states, but the technology is under-developed which leads to higher production costs. All these problems can only be solved and competitiveness can only be reached if there is an organization that is responsible for standardization and initiates all the necessary structural changes. The best organizational form to achieve these goals is a new kind of cooperation. The market position of Hungarian bee-keepers would also improve if they could sell their products with quality certificates and licensed brand names.