Bee mortality: aid of 3 million euros for French beekeepers

Bee mortality: aid of 3 million euros for French beekeepers
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dpa / AFP / File
/ Ina Fbadbender

Agriculture Minister Stéphane Travert on Monday announced aid of 3 million euros for beekeepers affected by bee mortality, intended for the renewal of swarms, according to a statement.

The Ministry will set up an exceptional aid scheme for beekeepers [affectés] which will be effective by the end of September, and will take the form of an aid for the renewal of the bee herd (aid for the purchase of swarms). The amount allocated to this aid will be of 3 million euros. "

The qualitative survey conducted by the Directorate General for Food (DGAL) at the Regional Food Directorates Agriculture and Forestry (DRAAF) on bee mortality in the winter of 2017/2018, has indeed "highlighted an increase compared to previous winters in Brittany, New Aquitaine, Provence-Alpes-Côte-D ' azure and Burgundy-Franche-Comté mainly ", the Ministry

The criteria taken into account for the allocation of the aid are being defined, in connection with professional beekeeping organizations. The system will be articulated with the aid already put in place by the local authorities and in particular the regional councils.

In order to meet the cash flow needs of the affected beekeepers, an advance will be paid promptly as soon as the request is made. Beekeepers will then have until the end of spring 2019 to buy swarms and transmit invoices, according to the text.

In addition to the qualitative survey, a national quantitative survey carried out by the national platform epidemiological surveillance in animal health is underway with more than 50,000 beekeepers, says the ministry

The purpose of this survey is to collect information from beekeepers about the level of mortality during winter 2017/2018 and their possible causes. The online survey remains open until Wednesday, August 15 inclusive, following the link:

For several years, French beekeepers have suffered an average loss of 30% of their herds in winter, according to the National Union of French beekeeping (Unaf). During the winter of 2017/2018 "we have reached an additional milestone", with mortality rates that can rise to 40%, 50% or even 80%, said in June Gilles Lanio, president of Unaf.

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30/07/2018 17:07:53 –
Paris (AFP) –
© 2018 AFP