Honey-makers in crisis: Impact of various factors on bee populations worldwide. - There has been an increase in the number of beekeepers and bee colonies in MV over the past five years.
It seems like there's a buzz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as more individuals are taking up beekeeping. At the moment, the region boasts approximately 3,300 beekeepers who collectively tend to over 30,500 bee colonies. This represents a 25% increase in beekeepers and an 18% growth in bee colonies compared to five years ago, as reported by the state government in response to a query from independent state parliamentarian Eva Maria Schneider-Gärtner.
The majority of these beekeepers are enthusiasts. To foster beekeeping, around 176,000 euros in financial aid is accessible each year. This can be utilized for procuring essential beekeeping gear or for honey production. Subsidies are also provided for bee teaching gardens and demonstrations, training programs, honey testing, and measures against the dreaded Varroa mite.
As per the data, these funds have been mainly utilized recently. In 2023, around 163,000 euros were disbursed, with 103,000 euros allocated for equipment purchases. Around 30,000 euros were spent on mite medication. The mite is widely recognized as the primary cause of bee hive deaths.
The surge in beekeeping in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has led to an increased demand for beekeeping equipment and mite medication. Many enthusiastic beekeepers are benefiting from the annual financial aid of 176,000 euros, with a significant portion allocated to combat the Varroa mite, which is known to cause bee hive deaths.
