NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

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1 Rural Romania NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK ISSUE 19 YEAR II, February 2015 Maria TOMA The financial support programmes have increased the competitiveness of apiarian sector Servant at the court of Apis Mellifera Carpatica Queen Research, the basis for the development of Romanian apiculture Organized apiculture provides added value to the village ROOTS OF A EUROPEAN COUNTRY Ministerul Agriculturii și Dezvoltării Rurale

2 REGIONAL OFFICES The Support Unit of the National Rural Development Network BRĂILA 282 Independentei Blvd., 1st floor, postal code , Tel.: , Fax: CRAIOVA 19 Libertatii St., The Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, room L-311, 2nd floor, postal code , Tel.: , Fax: ZALĂU 49 Kossuth Lajos St., postal code , Tel.: , Fax: TÂRGU MUREŞ 60 Mihai Eminescu St., postal code , Tel.: , Fax: IAŞI Ciric Recration Area Ciric Recreation Complex, postal code , Tel.: , Fax: TIMIŞOARA 53 Take Ionescu Blvd., 2nd floor, office 26, postal code , Tel.: , Fax: TÂRGOVIŞTE 7A Varzaru Armasu St., postal code , Tel.: , Fax: BUCUREŞTI Nicolae Filipescu St., 6th floor, 2nd district, postal code , Tel.: , Fax: The text of this magazine is exclusively for information purpose, and it does not imply legal liability You can find out more information on the MARD and NSU at: NSU Department of Publications, February 2015 ISSN x ISSN-L x NRDN, 2015 The reproduction of the texts from this magazine is authorized, provided that the source is indicated. Printed in Romania. Photo copyright: Association of Beekeepers from Romania, Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture, Mihai Giurgilă, Ionel Drăgan, Albinel Firescu, Iulian Zamfir, Association Angustia Egyesület Local Action Group, Ceahlău Local Action Group, Institute of Research and Development for Ovine and Caprinae Breeding from Palas, Constanța County, Fruit-Growing Research and Development Centre from Iași,

3 Contents EDITORIAL...3 INTERVIEW Maria TOMA, Manager within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Directorate for Market Organizations in Zootechnical Sector The financial support programmes have increased the competitiveness of apiarian sector...4 RURAL DEVELOPMENT Romania, the bee heaven When bees become extinct, the humans will only have four years to live Albert Einstein Research, the basis for the development of Romanian apiculture Bioch. Dr. Cristina Mateescu, General Manager of the Institute of Researchand Development for Apiculture PEOPLE A childhood passion has turned into a profitable business in adulthood...24 Apiculture, from hobby to lifestyle...28 Servant at the court of Apis Mellifera Carpatica Queen...30 EXPERIENCES My farm For a former locksmith, apiculture means passion and profit...34 My community Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca, Giurgiu County The organized apiculture provides added value to the village...36 UPDATED LEADER Asociația Angustia Egyesület Local Action Group...40 Ceahlău Local Action Group...42 NEWS AND EVENTS...44 INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK MEMBERS Institute of Research and Development for Ovine and Caprinae Breeding from Palas, Constanța County...45 Fruit-Growing Research and Development Centre from Iași

4 2 Rural Romania No 19

5 Editorial Apiculture, a successful Romanian model If you want to gather honey, don t kick over the beehive, said Dale Carnegie ( ), a famous American book writer about self-improvement, salesmanship, talking in public and interpersonal skills. Romanian apiculturists know that and, in time, despite the bad weather or difficult times, they did not destroy what it was built. They continued on a path which proven to be the right one and which led them to profitable businesses. In our country, apiculture has been an occupation for thousands of years, but the strongest development, especially as business, it experienced in the 60s, when Romania was the fifth world s honey producer. And this due to a man about whom it is said that he raised above his period: Veceslav Harnaj. He made from apiculture a true industry, which, even if it sounds incredible, is based on the tiny bee. He also laid the ground for apiarian research in our country and, at the same time, he made from the Romanian apiculture a model for the world apiculture. One of the greatest achievements of Professor Veceslav Harnaj is the association between apiculturists during the communism. In 1957, Veceslav Harnaj established the Association of Beekeepers from Romania, a professional organization which still operates nowadays and which holds the Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture. For the democratic countries, it was unbelievable for a communist country, where the state was controlling everything, to give rise to a type of association which was similar to a private system. Being asked by the journalists how it is possible, Professor Harnaj answered: It was not necessary for the state to raise the barriers of the treasury to build what is here. Everything was done with the money of the apiculturists from Romania, of tens of thousands of people who are part of our association. At the end of the day, it is about putting soul in a viable business. The passion brought apiculturists together, it made them carry forward the work of an outstanding personality of the world s apiculture and to develop the industry whose ground was laid by Veceslav Harnaj, a construction engineer borne in 1917 in a village from Bessarabia. The passion from apiculture and the first knowledge in the field were passed to him by his father, a priest in his natal village. During his entire life, he successfully combined the professional activity in the technical field with the great love for apiculture. The accession to European Union has brought benefits to the entire industry made prosperous by Professor Harnaj. Moreover, the National Apiarian Programme and the support provided under the National Rural Development Programme are a great help for apiculturists. In this issue of our magazine, you will find information on these financing opportunities. We also invite you to read in our magazine Rural Romanian what the private research institute does in Romania and how a professional association established approximately 60 years ago operates. At the same time, reading it, you will discover true businesses which started from the passion for apiculture. Apiculture has been and will always be an important agricultural activity especially due to the important role of the bee in maintaining biodiversity, increasing the agricultural productions as result of pollination and, last but not least, because it offers people the wonderful and beneficent apiarian products. Romania was and continues to be a model in the world s apiculture through everything this field means: bee, professional apiculturists, material basis, research, melliferous basis, high quality productions. It is worth mentioning that apitherapy, an important sector in the world s apiculture, was born in Romania. Viviana Vasile, Team Leader of the project Establishment and Support of the National Rural Development Network 3

6 Rural Romania No 19 Interview Maria TOMA, Manager within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Directorate for Market Organizations in Zootechnical Sector The financial support programmes have increased the competitiveness of apiarian sector Why was it necessary to implement a special programme for the apicultural sector? Which is the scope of the programme? Maria Toma: Under (EC) Regulation no. 1221/1997, the Council has established the general rules regarding the actions for the improvement of honey production and marketing. It is acknowledged that the European apiculture is a sector of the agriculture whose main functions are the economic activity and rural development, honey production and other apiarian products and maintenance of ecological balance. According to the provisions of European Union Council Regulation no /2007 on training of a common organization of the agricultural markets and regarding specific provisions on certain agricultural products, a national programme must be established for a period of three years for the improvement of the conditions of production and marketing of apiarian products in the European Union. The main scope of the programme is: - supporting varoosis prophylaxis and controlling activities; - supporting the physical and chemical tests of honey; - purchasing the biological material for restoring the apiarian livestock which favours the obtaining of the highest quality apiarian products in apiaries, and also the replacement of deteriorated beehives. Is this National Apiarian Programme delimitated from the National Rural Development Programme? Maria Toma: The National Apiarian Programme (PNA) is part of the 1st Pillar, in which there are included the direct payments to farmers, whether from the national budget or from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF). In case of PNA, co-financing is 50% of the national budget, 50% of EAGF funds. The National Rural 4

7 Development Programme manages investments programmes from the 2nd Pillar with financing from EAGF. A certain coherence must be ensured between the actions of the apiarian programmes and other measures which result from various community policies when the programmes are implemented. Is this programme also endorsed by the European Commission? Maria Toma: According to art. 2 of (EC) Regulation no. 917/2004 of the Commission, which contains methods of application of (EC) Regulation no. 797/2004, as subsequently amended, the member states communicate the apiarian programmes to the Commission prior to April 15th of the first year covered by the programme, from the period of three years. The National Apiarian Programme for was approved under the Decision of the European Commission no of August 12th, 2013 on the approval of the programmes for the improvement of the production and marketing of apiarian products presented by the member states under (EC) Regulation no /2007 of the Council, and on the establishment of the contribution of the European Union to these programmes. provisions of art. 5 of (EC) Regulation no. 797/2004 of the Council of April 26th, 2004, on the actions for the improvement of the conditions of production and marketing of apiarian products: The apiarian programme is developed in close collaboration with the representative organizations and apiarian cooperatives. It is communicated to the Commission, which decides its approval in accordance with the procedure provided at article 17 of (EEC) Regulation no. 2771/75 of the Council of October 29th, 1975 on the common organization of the markets in the egg sector. Since when and how does the National Apiarian Programme operate and which is its structure per years? Maria Toma: From 2008, the apiculturists from Romania have been benefiting of financial support measures approved in the National Apiarian Programme as follows: - under the National Apiarian Programme for period, approved under the Decision of the European Commission of August 17th, 2007, on the approval of the Programme for the improvement of production and marketing of apiarian products, drawn up by Romania under the Council Regulation no. 797/2004 and under the Government Decision no. 556/2008, the apiculturists have received financial support in amount of LEI 40,110, under the National Apiarian Programme for , approved under the Decision of the European Commission of September 14th, 2010, on the approval of the programme for the improvement of production and marketing of apiarian product presented by Romania under (EC) Regulation no /2007 of the Council, and on the establishment of the contribution of the European Union to this programme and under the Government Decision no. 245/2011, the apiculturists have received financial support in amount of LEI 87,883, the European Commission participates to financing the actions from the Programme with 50% Are there constraints from the European Union related to the National Apiarian Programme? What we are and what we are not allowed to do under this programme? Maria Toma: Any additional compensation caused by a combination of aids and any contradiction in defining the actions must be avoided! Are the professional associations consulted for the development of the programme? Maria Toma: Yes. According to the 5

8 Rural Romania No 19 of the expenses incurred by Romania for each accessed action, exclusive of VAT. - the financial years of the Programme are established as of October 16th of each ear until October 15th of the following year, and the actions contained in it are applied on annual basis by the beneficiaries as of October 16th of the current year until August 31st of the following year, The afferent payments are made during the financial year. Which is the current status of the National Apiarian Programme? Maria Toma: The programme is in progress, the due date for the submittal of the application and of its accompanying documents being August 1st of each year. The amounts shall be discounted by the Agency of Payments and Intervention for Agriculture until October 15th of each year. Which are the actions of the programmes? Maria Toma: According to the provisions of the Regulation no. 1234/2007, the actions which are included in apiarian programme are as follows: a) technical support for apiculturists and groups of apiculturists; b) fight against varoosis; c) flock movement rationalization; d) assistance measures for the laboratories testing the physical and chemical characteristics of honey; e) assistance measures for the repopulation of community apiarian livestock; f) collaboration with bodies specialized in implementing programmes of research applied in the field of apiculture and apiarian products. Who are the beneficiaries and which are the eligibility conditions? Maria Toma:According to the provisions of the Government Decision no. 1050/2013 for the approval of the National Apiarian Programme for , application norms and also financial support amount, the beneficiaries of National Apiarian Programme are: Apiculturists, natural or legal persons, authorized natural persons, individual enterprises and family enterprises established according to the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 44/2008 on carrying out the economic activities by the authorized natural persons, individual enterprises and family enterprises, as subsequently amended and supplemented, organized in associations of beekeepers, federations, apicultural unions, agricultural cooperatives or groups of producers acknowledged according to the valid legislation. Does National Apiarian Programme bring changes as compared to the previous programmes? Maria Toma: Yes, the products discounted under the National Apiarian Programme can be procured directly from or through the agency of the intermediate of the association, as compared to the previous National Apiarian Programme, when these procurements could only be made through the agency of the association. Which are the measures of National Apiarian Programme and what actions are supported? Please, explain each one in detail. Maria Toma: The following actions are included in National Apiarian Programme: 1. purchase of medicinal products, beehive bottom boards for control or anti-varooa beehive 6

9 bottom boards; Eligible costs: - the price, exclusive of VAT, of the medicinal products for controlling varoosis, purchased for the entire effective of bees held by the apiculturist on the date of submitting the application for financial support; - the price, exclusive of VAT, of the medicinal products for controlling varoosis, used for ecological apiculture, purchased for the entire effective of bees held by the apiculturist on the date of submitting the application for financial support, in the case of ecological apiculture; - the price, exclusive of VAT, of beehive bottom boards or of antivarooa bottom boards. 2. purchase of queens, honeycomb swarms and/or bee families; Eligible costs: the price, exclusive of VAT, for the purchase of a maximum number of queens equal to 50% of the bee families held by the apiculturist on the date of submitting the application for financial support, but not more than 100 queens, and for the purchase of the medicinal products necessary to treat the bee families; the price, exclusive of VAT, for the purchase of a maximum number of honeycomb swarms equal to 20% of the bee families held by the apiculturist on the date of submitting the application for financial support, but not more than 50 swarms, and for the purchase of the medicinal products necessary to treat them; the price, exclusive of VAT, for the purchase of a maximum number of bee families equal to 30% of the bee families held by the apiculturist on the date of submitting the application for financial support, but not more than 50 families, and for the purchase of the medicinal products necessary to treat them. 3. purchase of beehives in order to renew the hives outworn as a result of moving them in pastoral areas; Eligible costs: the price, exclusive of VAT, for the purchase of hives equipped according to apiarian technology, but not more than 30% of the total number of hives owned by the apiculturist on the date of submitting the application for financial support, excluding the biological material. 4. discount of the physical and chemical tests which certify the quality of honey. Eligible costs: the price, exclusive of VAT, for the basic set of physical and chemical tests, which to certify the quality of honey and which to include: determination of hydromethylfurfural (HMF) from honey; determination of glucose and fructose in honey; determination of water content; organoleptic examination; determination of diastatic index. Under the Decision of the European Commission no of August 12th, 2013, on the approval of the programmes for the improvement of the production and marketing of the apiarian products presented by the member states under (EC) Regulation no /2007 of the Council, and on the establishment of the European Union contribution to these programmes, the value of the financial support is 50% from the state budget and 50% from EU budget, EUR 20,045,340 and LEI 89,091,513, respectively, distributed as follows: year 2014 EUR 6,683,690 LEI 29,705,660, respectively; year 2015 EUR 6,684,930 LEI 29,711,171, respectively; year 2016 EUR 6,676,720 LEI 29,674,682, respectively National Apiarian Programme National Apiarian Programme According to EC Decision of August 17th, 2007: According to EC Decision of September 14th, 2010: - for 2008 EUR 1,985,267; - for 2011 EUR 3,473,395; - for 2009 EUR 1,966,151; - for 2012 EUR 3,462,218; - for 2010 EUR 1,975, for 2013 EUR 3,446,343. According to the Government Decision no. 556/2008 (EUR LEI exchange rate ): According to the Government Decision no. 245/2011 (EUR LEI exchange rate ): - for 2008 LEI 6,717,150; - for 2011 LEI 14,701,144.33; - for 2009 LEI 6,652,471; - for 2012 LEI 14,653, ; - for 2010 LEI 6,685, for 2013 LEI 14,586, EUR-LEI exchange rate is established by the European Central Bank on December 31st, 2012, at LEI , according to art. 1 of (EC) Regulation no /2006 of the Commission of December 20th, 2006 on establishing the norms for the application of the agri-monetary system of Euro in the agricultural sector, and on modifying certain regulation. Comparison between National Apiarian Programme and National Apiarian Programme support amount. 7

10 Rural Romania No 19 Comparison between National Apiarian Programme and National Apiarian Programme support amount National Apiarian National Apiarian Programme Programme 1. Fight against varoosis: 1. Technical support for apiculturists and groups of apiculturists - purchase of medicinal products for treating the entire - Printing and multiplying the Guide of Good Practice for Apiculture and the informative materials, namely, flyers, posters, brochures effective of bees owned by the apiculturist 2. Restoration of apiarian 2. Controlling varoosis livestock: - purchase of queens, swarms in package, swarms on honeycombs and bee families Degree of absorption: National Apiarian Programme National Apiarian Programme - in %; - in %; - in %; - in %; - in %. - in % result monitoring Indicative years No. of beneficiaries 3,683 5,432 4,120 No. of applicants Queens pcs. 7,200 13,243 17,808 Families of bees - pcs. 1,134 11,508 40,977 Swarm on honeycomb - pcs 510 3,405 8,987 Swarm in package - pcs ,401 1, result monitoring: Indicative years No. of beneficiaries 5,365 7,964 7,076 No. of applicants Queens pcs. 16,923 33,641 29,936 Families of bees - pcs. 66,698 85,619 60,712 Swarm on honeycomb - pcs. 6,969 18,509 40,823 Swarm in package - pcs. 2,240 8,820 13,062 Bee hives - pcs. 48,569 73, ,365 Tests - sets GBP + informative materials 500 / 2, / 2, / Purchase of medicinal products, biological products, nutritive supplements, biostimulators and beehive bottom boards for control or anti-varooa beehive bottom boards for bee breeds homologated in Romania from conventional / ecological apiculture. 3. Support of the restoration of the effective of bee families on the national territory: - Purchase of queens, swarms in package, swarms on honeycombs and bee families of breeds homologated in Romania 4. Rationalization of pastoral apiculture: - Purchase of hives for the renewal of the hives outworn as a result of moving them in pastoral areas 5. Assistance for the laboratories which test the physical and chemical characteristics of honey: - Performing the physical and chemical tests which to certify the quality of honey. 8

11 How can potential beneficiaries access the measures from the National Apiarian Programme? Maria Toma: : According to the Government Decision no. 1050/2013 for the approval of National Apiarian Programme, the application norms and also of the financial support amount, the beneficiaries of National Apiarian Programme purchase the products directly from or through the agency of the association, and they request, on annual basis, the financial support through the agency of the legally established association which they are part of. Based on the applications and documents submitted by the beneficiaries, the representative of the legally established association shall submit at the county centre of the Agency of Payments and Intervention for Agriculture, or the centre of Bucharest, on the radius of which the headquarters registered in the incorporation documents is located, the justifying documents provided in the aforementioned regulatory deed. For the actions provided in the Programme, the due date for the submittal of the application and of its accompanying documents is August 1st of each year. The amounts shall be discounted by APIA until October 15th of each year. From your perspective, how do you think apiculture will evolve in Romania within the following period? Maria Toma: : Due to the financial support programmes accessed by apiculturists, the apiarian sector has experienced a significant development by establishing or modernizing the apiarian farms, which led to the improvement and increase of competitiveness in this sector. The European and national programmes dedicated to apiculturists were focused on the development of subsistence farms, settlement of young farmers or the improvement of the conditions for the production and marketing of apiarian products. Thus, by accessing these programmes, the apiculturists could procure biological material with certified value, bee hives and modern apiarian equipment for the development of this activity in order to obtain products that are competitive both on the national and international market. It is well-known the fact that in our country, the consumption of honey is low. Are there any programmes which to stimulate the consumption in order for the profitability of honey and apiarian product exploitation to increase? Maria Toma: There is no specific programme in progress, but at every relevant fair from the country, the apiculturists successfully promote the consumption of honey! 9

12 Rural Romania No 19 Rural development Romania, the bee heaven When bees become extinct, the humans will only have four years to live Albert Einstein From ancient times, in our country, apiculture appeared as an important occupation of those who lived here. The former Dacian regions, which are Romania of today, were and still are a country of flowers and the heaven of bees. Here, in Danube-Carpathian area, the Romanian bee, Apis Mellifera Carpatica, turned into a legend and entered the history books. History of Romanian apiculture in short Apiculture multi-millenary occupation of the population of this region it has always been favoured by a milder climate and generous nature. Not without a reason, is said that the territory of our country is the «bee heaven»: it has rich plains and pastures with many melliferous plants, wide forests, the most important species of fruit trees and wide sunflower cultures. Herodotus, the father of history, wrote about the inhabitants of Dacian lands and, especially, about those from the area of the lower Danube, that they grounded their economic power, among others, on keeping bees and trading their products. Just as true is the fact that Romanian people have made a sustained effort in all periods to perfect the apiculture in trend with the requirements of the times. In the vital space of Romanian people, there was from the since time immemorial an apiculture school, verbally passed from one generation to another, and a mass apiarian movement. In 1785, at Vienna, the first Romanian work about the popularization of apiculture was published with the title The Economy of Beehives, written by Ioan Molnar-Pinariu. In 1823, another book called The Culture of Bees was published, being written by Ioan Tomici, the apiculturist and professor from Banat, the founder of Romanian apiculture school. After participating in the Congress of the German apiculturists organized at Salzburg in September 1872, when he returned home, Nicolae Grand, together with Vichentie Scheleian, established the Association of Apiculturists from Banat, which, in 1873, edited the Magazine «Apicultorul» the tribune for the dissemination of the national apiculture in the country and abroad. An important stage in the organisation of the Romanian apiculture is reached in December, 1915, when, at the Palace of the Chamber of Commerce from Bucharest, takes place the first 10

13 Congress of the Bee Breeders from Romania, with this occasion, being established the National Society of Apiculture. It actively represented the Romanian apiculture in the international apiarian activity by participating in Apimondia Congresses organised at Torino (1928), Paris (1932), Brussels (1935), Paris (1937), Zurich (1939). The Association of Beekeepers from Romania is one of the most important apiarian associations from Romania and the only one with national coverage through its professional subsidiaries from each county. Established in 1957 as national organization, and officially acknowledged in 1958, the Association of Beekeepers from Romania has experienced an important and very rapid development in the following period, said Ioan Fetea the President of the Association of Beekeepers (ACA) from Romania (photo). In 1958, the Association of Beekeepers from Romania has acceded to the International Federation of Beekeepers Associations APIMONDIA, and in 1965, the 20th International Jubilee Congress of Apimondia was organized at Bucharest together with the first International Exhibition-Fair of Apiculture, which made the Romanian apiculture known abroad. During this Congress of Apimondia, Professor Veceslav Harnaj was elected president, successfully managing the destinies of the international federation for 20 years. Ioan Fetea says that prior to 1958, the year in which the Association of Beekeepers from Romania was established, the apiculture was disorganized, it was performed in an uneconomical way, but during the following years, it experienced a significant development. During the communist regime, apiculture experienced the strongest development and global appreciation. The support for apiculturists in that period, non-taxation, free transportation of bee hives in pastoral, ensured melliferous basis without chemicals, subsidized biostimulators, development of the apicultural education system and research, are a few of the opportunities created for this sector. In exchange, the period after December, 1989, besides the good things European and Romanian funds, has also caused separation, lack of vision in the agricultural policy, inadequate legislation etc. But, apiculturists are optimistic people and their love for this tiny, but important insect the bee will keep us united and consistent in developing and maintaining this wonderful agricultural sector, said the President of ACA Romania. Currently, there is a true industry around the bee Within the first ten years after 1989, in Romania, the bee effectives reduced and the same did the production; in exchange, we are currently occupying the third place in the European Union as regards the effectives. Between 1.3 and 1.5 million tons of honey are annually produced in the world, representing approximately 1% of sugar production. Also, bio sector has developed after 1989, comprising in bio certification over 100,000 bee 11

14 Rural Romania No 19 families with productions of up to 3,500 tons of honey. Unfortunately, the consumption of honey and bio products is very low in Romania, most of these products being exported. The lack of financial support in this field caused the limitation of its development, said Ioan Fetea. Apiculture has currently become an interesting and efficient sector in all its aspects. The role of bee in pollination has significantly increased after the destruction of other pollinators by the industrial agriculture; thus, the interest for protecting this insect has also increase. A true industry of equipment, medicinal products, processing, apitherapy, research laboratories has developed around it. All these determine the continuous development of apicultural sector. The mirage of money has united the apiculturists In apiculture, the same as in any sector of agriculture, the associations should be beneficial, showing their real utility. This is what happens in other countries. In our country, said Ioan Fetea, the Latin spirit makes the results to be different. Of course, there are exceptions and not just a few. After 1989, in apiculture sector, the number of associations grew like mushrooms. There are more than 300, of which some just on paper, only to be many. The mirage of national and European funds has caused the establishment of many of them. They are established only to submit applications for apiculturists under the National Apiarian Programme, and they will vanish once the funds disappear. This situation is abnormal, considering that in the developed countries from the European Union there is one, two, maximum three such associations. The problem is that cohesion no longer exists, and the interests of apiculturists are very hardly promoted, because all these «voices» must be considered, without existing a representativeness principle. And there is one other thing. If in agricultural sector, the landlords consider all the lands united, in apicultural sector, an association shall never be established by uniting the beehives, and the investments to be made in many associations cause only trials, because the sale of the products on the internal market is difficult (because of the high VAT level and tax evasion), and there are special requirements for the export. But, there are also associated apiculturists, firms, associations which fight for the development of all members and more efficient capitalization of production (although it is difficult), and, from this perspective, the Association of Beekeepers from Romania is the most complex cooperative from the European Union. The Association of Beekeepers, the oldest professional organization, has developed the Romanian apiculture The only professional organization which operates and has representativeness at national level is the Association of Beekeepers from Romania (ACA). Established in 1958 as professional apolitical association, ACA Romania 12

15 was focused and it still is on the development of the national apicultural sector and assurance of an optimal technical and organizational framework for the adequate performance of this occupation and trade in Romania. This Association was developed at national level, said its president, Ioan Fetea. The Association of Beekeepers from Romania has organized professional subsidiaries and Apicola trading companies in all counties. In 1965, it established the largest Combined Group of Apicultural Enterprises from Europe, which produces equipment and honeycombs for apiculturists and has a sector of very appreciated cosmetic products. In 1974, ACA Romania established the current Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture ICDA Bucharest, which, besides the research from fields as pathology, melliferous and genetic basis and apicultural improvement and technology, has a production sector for the apiarian and apitherapy medicinal products. Professor Veceslav Harnaj, who has been for 25 years the president of the Association of Beekeepers from Romania, and for 20 years the president of Apimondia, is the founder of this sector in Romania. Moreover, he has also integrated in this vast activity the former apiarian high-school currently taken over by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, no longer having any class of apiculture. The Association of Beekeepers from Romania was the only association from Romania (until 2007) which was preoccupied, together with the Romanian state, by the development of this sector, said Ioan Fetea. The number of apiculturists and families of bees has gradually, but constantly increased. In 1989, had a livestock of over 1,418,000 families of bees. Both bee families and their owners were part of the Association of Beekeepers from Romania. Within the next ten years, the bee family effectives have decreased to less over 600,000, because of the lack of agricultural policies in this sector, but also of the possibilities to gain money from illegal commerce. Today, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reports an effective of 1,538,908 bee families. Therefore, after all these years, Romania restored the effectives from apicultural sector. Currently, in Romania, there are registered less over 37,000 apiculturists. Approximately 20,000 of them are ACA members and hold over 1,050,000 bee families (more than 75% of the total). Over 500 apiculturists, who hold around 60,000 bee families, are registered at Albina Melifera Cooperative. It belongs to the Association of Beekeepers from Romania and it was established for the recognition of some scores on European funds, unrecognized to ACA members (Measure 112 for the settlement of young farmers). Romania pioneered the apicultural sector Romania exports over half of the annual honey production on annual basis, said ACA President. With regard to the export, we cannot influence to much the price. The market economy establishes it depending on the demand and supply. Our seriousness, and especially the quality of honey, determine the export price. Still, the Romanian honey is paid better due to its quality. At internal level, the price has increased every year, and in 2014, there was a satisfactory price, considering that the lack of production has caused the increase of the price. It is unusual, but true, although Romania has a honey surplus, between 10-15% 13

16 Rural Romania No 19 of the honey consumed in one year is imported. The problem is that honey «surrogates» are sometimes imported from countries outside the community, without being taken taxation and protection measures for the autochthonous product. This only causes the increase of the pressure on the internal price, honey being much under the expense price, but especially under its biological value. Not acknowledging the properties of honey by many consumers, of the fact that natural honey crystalizes, is a factor which makes the consumption of honey in Romania to be very low, added Ioan Fetea. Although Romania is a country with tradition in breeding bees, although our country is the second in the European Union with regard to the number of bees, although we produce over tons of honey on annual basis, and Romanian honey has been obtaining medals for over 40 years at every international fairs, the consumption per capita is somewhere between 400 and 500 grams, one of the lowest rank in the European Union. ACA Romania tries, in a small way, to promote both honey and the other beehive products. The Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture (ICDA), a unit of the Association of Beekeepers from Romania, promotes and uses all beehive products in a wide range of apitherapeutic products. Romania has pioneered in apiculture. We annually organize at Bucharest two national apiarian fairs and many others at county level. In 2006, the Parliament of Romania voted the Law no. 509, which provided the introduction of honey in schools, together with the milk and bagel, expressly to increase the popularity of this natural and healthy product. The law has not been yet applied and it was abrogated last year. We also made a non-commercial advertising with the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and of the Ministry of Health, which no television wants to broadcast. We also have our own magazine Romania Apicola which has been monthly issued for more than 35 years and in which, besides articles on apiarian technology, pathology and melliferous basis, the promotion of apiarian products occupies a special place. We believe that this sector should be supported more, not only by the Association of Beekeepers from Romania, but also by others, said Ioan Fetea. The accession of Romania to European Union has provided for the apiculturists a series of regulations regarding the sanitary and veterinary norms and the quality of the products. The interdiction to use antibiotics and other chemical substances in treating bee families, the genetically modified bodies and so on, were challenges which apiculturists understood; from this perspective, things were rapidly settled and the quality of the products was not altered. Romania has apiculturists with complete professional training, which adapt or make efforts to adapt to all sanitary and veterinary requirements, our scope focusing on bringing before the consumer natural, clean, quality products, complying with all legislative rigours, added Ioan Fetea. He also said that in the current conditions, when the economic crises created great problems in the world and in our country, the interest for apiculture is huge. The increasing demand of natural products, the financial support allocated for agriculture and apiculture, the total acknowledgement of the role of bee in keeping a clean environment and biodiversity, the fascination of organization and activity in the hive are a few of the premises which will continue to ensure a good and safe perspective for the development of this sector. 14

17 Research, the basis for the development of Romanian apiculture Bioch. Dr. Cristina Mateescu, General Manager of the Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture The Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture is the result of several organisation systems which apiarian research faced during its evolution. The first institution relevant in the Romanian apiarian research was established in 1930 as part of the National Institute of Zootechnics from Bucharest. Then, in 1957, the Central Apiculture and Sericulture Centre was established, being the result of the unification of the two fields of activity apiculture and sericulture in a single institution, which were already operating as part of the Institute of Agronomical Researches. In 1971, the Centre for Apiarian Studies, Design and Education was established as part of the Association of Beekeepers from Romania. The most important moment in the Romanian apiarian research was in June, 1974, when the Institute of Research and Production for Apiculture was established, uniting the Central Centre for Apiculture and Sericulture with the Centre for Apiarian Studies, Design and Education, which was part of the Association of Beekeepers from Romania. This historical moment is due to Professor Veceslav Harnaj ( ), the President of APIMONDIA ( ) and of the Association of Beekeepers from Romania ( ). Being located in a new building belonging to ACA Romania, equipped with a very good material base and teams of high value researchers, the Institute of Research and Production for Apiculture has soon become a reference institute in various apiarian specialties, with a complex scientific activity. The research activity was structured in sub-fields, similar to the organisational structure of APIMONDIA: Bee Genetics and Improvement; Apiarian Technologies; Melliferous Resources and Pollination; Chemistry and Technology of Apiarian Products; Apitherapy; Apiarian Pathology. In 1997, based on the new legislation and on the transformations from the Romanian economic and research system, the Institute of Research and Production for Apiculture has become S.C. Institutul de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Apicultura S.A., a statutory research and development unit belonging to the Association of Beekeepers from Romania, its structure and objectives remaining unchanged. A private research institute It is known that apiculture is a millenary occupation. When was the Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture developed and why was an institute necessary? Cristina Mateescu: It is a long story. Apiculture is a tradition on Carpathian-Dunubian-Pontic territory. According to the historical documents, the Danube could not be crossed because of the multitude of bees. In 1958, what once was an association of apiculturists, established one century prior, legally became the Association of Beekeepers from Romania, the largest non-profit apolitical professional association from the country, with a great number of members, meant to fulfil 15

18 Rural Romania No 19 their requirements. In 1965, on the occasion of the 20th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress organized at Bucharest, the current apicultural centre, the former group of apiarian enterprises, was established. Afterwards, considering the requests of the apiculturists and the development of apiculture, which was very fast, it was necessary to come with solutions for the serious problems, like, for example, the health of bees, the confrontation of apiculturists with a series of other diseases less known until then or which became more aggressive. Thus, it was necessary to establish the Institute of Research for Apiculture. Initially, it was called the Institute of Research and Production for Apiculture, subsequently becoming the Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture. Therefore, the idea was for the institute to deal with the health of bees, but also to capitalize the production or to research those valences that we discover in honey. Cristina Mateescu: And not only this, because, you see, the institute has a very wide range of activities. The apiculture has many implications, on the one hand, the bee itself, namely the genetics and its biology, and on the other hand, interventions in the technology for the maintenance of these bees, to find the most valuable honey collecting sources, so, melliferous resources, food and pollen sources for them, and, of course, to ensure culture pollination. After all, why doing apiculture if not for obtaining apiarian products. Therefore, a capitalisation of the beehive products was necessary for health and diet, nowadays called apitherapy, which otherwise has put a mark on the world history. I am referring to the fact that in 1974, even if he was not initially part of the institute, but from 1977, Professor Vaceslav Harnaj, a legend of world apiculture, established the first medical centre of apitherapy from the world, where various clinical trials were performed in order to discover the effects of the beehive products on human health. The establishment of this institute was based on the principles of the permanent scientific commissions of Apimondia, which is the International Federation of Apiculture Association, otherwise, the only federation which deals with 16

19 an insect. There is no international federation of the horse or cow, but there is in the case of bees. There is a close connection between the apiculturists from the world, each with their problems. There is a great exchange of information which helped a lot, and it was concluded that it is imperatively necessary to create and develop an apiarian institute. Currently, staring from pilot studies in the pilot phase resulted from researches, a series of medicinal products were created, which, currently have marketing authorization, the Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture also holding the good practice and GMP manufacture certificates for these medicinal products for veterinarian use. With regard to the health of bees, which are the current struggles of apiculturists and what does the institute that you manage in this regard? Cristina Mateescu: The main disease, which has currently become a world scourge, is varoosis, which has initially appeared in Europe, starting from the beginning of the 20th century from Java Island, where it was not dangerous for the local bee. Reaching in Europe, it became varroa jacobsoni, a mite which affects the adult bees and the young bees, and, therefore, we had to find a way to control it. The aggressiveness of this mite has increased so much that it is no longer called varroa jacobsoni, but varroa destructor. Our institute has developed two medicinal products based on active principles which are normally considered pesticides, but they are active substances for the treatment of the disease, and it appears that the demand of the apiculturists show that very good results are obtained. Apiculturists trust these products which they have been using for very long time, and what makes us extremely happy is that the might has not become immune to this product. Also, knowing that in the treatment of bacterial diseases or diseases caused by protozoa there is no need for antibiotics, because they will also be found in honey, which depreciate its quality, we have created a product based on plants, maybe one of a few in the world, which ensures the health of bees both as related to immunity and to the control of protozoa, which is called nosema. They were also improved as regards nosema: if in the beginning they were nosema apis, we currently deal with another protozoa, which is nosema cernae, which probably came also from Asian regions, and we must overcome this situation. Protofil is one of these products with marketing authorization. The results obtained by apiculturists are very good, given the high demand which has been increasing for the natural treatment of bee families. We will obviously not stop here. There are also other diseases, there are bacterial disease, infectious-contagious disease. We have research projects in progress whose scope is to find remedies as natural as possible to ensure the quality of apiarian products. You reminded the fact that the institute was also created to develop technologies. Cristina Mateescu: Of course. All sorts of technologies were created, new models of beehives, new models of collecting frames for propolis and pollen various models, which, over time, have 17

20 Rural Romania No 19 only helped the apiculturist to obtain more rapidly the production. Over time, other beehive products were turned to profit, the greatest hope for the future being the propolis. Propolis is often brought into discussion, many people are tempted to recommend it. It is said in medicine that there are illnesses and patients. The illnesses manifest differently, each patient has a certain immunity system which tolerates or not a certain medication. What is good for a patient is not good for the other. That is why we are different. For this reason, we have created a Medical Apitherapy Centre, in order to lay the scientific grounds for the usage of these beehive products for human health. Very important for our institute was this team of research on human health and diet. The pharmacological physical and chemical properties of propolis were studied with the support of the doctors from the medical centre, pharmacists, biochemists, biologists, who have worked in this team. There was a series of formulas which resist in time, product formulas, which, initially, were medicinal products, and which, under the new legislation, became food supplements. We are proud to say that in this field, Romania made a step forward, towards acknowledging propolis as medicinal products, with two forms of presentation, namely tincture and suppositories. Our institute holds the marketing authorization for two propolis-based natural products. It is a result which can be extrapolated at world level, because you know very well that the legislation in the field is very strict. The chemical molecule is more accepted, more approved, because it is reproducible by synthesis, while a natural product has its variations. Due to this reason, I say that it is a great merit of the specialists of the National Drug Agency who actually considered the results that can be obtained with this product. I would go further and say that we also capitalize the potential of other products like pollen, royal jelly, fermented pollen, bee venin. More correct, the venin should be called apitoxin because it is a venin only when it is in the body of the bee. We have succeeded in time, at the institute, to establish a series of formulas of an ointment and, afterwards, a liniment based on bee venin. It is an honour for both the institute and the Drug Agency to have acknowledged the anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatism properties of this bee venin. The Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture is well-known at the level of the National Technical Committee for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Beehive Products, and we work together to finalize some laws which to l ay s t r e s s on t he api a r i a n pr o duc t s. ICDA, a model outside the country borders With regard to the results of the research in this field, where is ICDA in relation to the research for apiculture from the world? Cristina Mateescu: There are, of course, research centres in various corners of the world. We could say that, based on our model, the National Institute from France was created, with which, we had a very 18

21 productive collaboration. Somewhere close to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, at Rochelle, we carried out a very important study with regard to the utility of various species of pollen and their accessibility for bees, in the sense that many pollen species with therapeutic potential could help the bee, ensuring a very good immunity condition, which to make her resistant to various diseases. Of course, there are other research centres specialised in apiarian products somewhere in Switzerland. There is another research centre in Poland, but which strictly relates to a few apicultural fields, like terminology or genetics and improvement. What was created in our institute by Professor Harnaj was a quintessence of what apiculture means with all its aspects, starting for the care for the small insect and endic with the capitalization of its production. You mentioned the results, you also gave us examples. Have you succeeded to capitalize these examples also at international level? Cristina Mateescu: Every two years, Romania participates in all international congresses of Apimondia and many of the results of the scientific research were published in specialty magazines, rated magazines, and we, the researchers, went through the same purgatory of our certification, the same as scientific researchers. Yes, maybe what is important is that we are a private institute. We are part of the Association of Beekeepers, as we were created from the beginning, and we resisted to the so-called communist and socialist times. The things went correctly. We give major importance to the capitalization of nectar-polleniferous resources from our country and to the assurance of culture pollination with the help of bees. There is the tendency to bring new species, some of them are self-fertile, self-pollinating, the bee no longer having such a great source of pollen. Let us not forget that one third of the food we eat is obtained due to bee pollination. We are talking about vegetables, fruits, field cultures on which we feed ourselves. On one hand, the culture develops, we must help those involved in the vegetal sector, on the other hand, we are affected, because the bee is exposed to toxic substances, because, by protecting the plant, we no longer protect the bee. Apis Mellifera Carpatica, the autochthonous bee, must be kept Let us also discuss about what genetics and the improvement of this field means. Cristina Mateescu: Due to the national apiarian programmes which have been implemented, we have already in progress the third National Apiarian Programme with European and national funds. Apiculture has developed, in the sense that apiculturists have benefited by the increase of the possibilities to acquire bee families and selected queens. It is worth mentioning that by taking care of the bee, we are the holders of the number 1 elite queen certificate, the only one from Romania. Therefore, the institute has queen breeding centres on 19

22 Rural Romania No 19 different ecotypes found in the country, and it is the main supplier of elite queens both for those who need to create a multiplication apiary and for the apiculturists who need to replace their queens. The national apiarian programmes have a beneficial effect on the apiculture, together with the other rural development programmes. I am referring to the two measures for the settlement of the young farmers and for the semi-subsistence farms, which have stimulated the apiculturists to create apiaries with good and healthy effectives, especially that they also benefit from help in order to keep the bee healthy, one of the measures being that of protection against varoosis. All anti-varroa medicines were discounted, even the food supplements, which determined better immunity and, therefore, resistance of the bee families against varoosis. Another support measure is also good and refers to the protection of the consumer, being related to the quality of honey, in the sense that a test report with five essential parameters is discounted for the apiculturist in order to sell his honey on the market or elsewhere. This is also a good thing. You make researches with regard to queen genetics and improvement. Which are the bees suited for the climate conditions from our country? Cristina Mateescu: Our particular preoccupation is to keep the autochthonous genetic fund, the best adapted to pedoclimatic and flora conditions from this territory. Over time, it has been attempted to bring any type of small box with an Italian queen, Caucasian queen, but the worst happened when it was attempted to bring into the country hybrids to make explosive productions. We are talking about buckfast hybrid, which yields results only in the first year, afterwards, it can no longer be multiplied, and, then, it is a something pretty hard to keep. Well, we also try at the level of the Association of Beekeepers and also at the level of our institute to increase the awareness of the Ministry of Agriculture in order to provide protection to autochthonous bee, the same as the Slovenian people succeeded into keeping their Carnica bee. We have Apis Mellifera Carpatica. Years ago, the National Agency for Improvement and Reproduction in the Field of Zootechnics has granted us the number one elite queen certificate, us being the ones who provided the queens for different areas of the country which have specific ecotypes. We are talking about the ecotype of Moldavian Plateau at Iași we have an area centre for queen breeding -, the specific ecotype of Danube Delta and of the Danube Basin, at Bididia at Tulcea. We have the hill and mountain bee, Cislau area and somewhere near Buzău, at Florica, and we also have our steppe bee from Baragan, in four apiaries from Baneasa and Moara Vlasiei area. Each of these apiaries has certified apiculturists and scientific researchers who provide very good quality queens in order to keep this autochthonous species in the country Apis Mellifera Carpatica. 20

23 I would like to ask you to detail a little this part of beehive organisation. Cristina Mateescu: The tasks in a beehive are very well defined, and each generation of bees, from the moment they come out of the egg and until death, carries out a certain activity, therefore, things will never overlap and the beehive will always work. There is one queen, a single female which can lay two eggs of which individuals can come out. This queen lives longer than anyone else. It can live for up to four years, while a small working bee lives in the active season for approximately 40 days. The mystery of the long life of the queen is that it is fed only with royal jelly, which is exclusively provided to it. It is indeed royal food, having an extraordinary composition which prologues life. Therefore, it was believed at some point that the elixir of youth without age. In the 50s, a patient was Papa Pius the 12th himself, who, being ill, consumed royal jelly and recovered his health at an advanced age. It is true that all things must be taken with measure, because this super concentrated gel has a series of compounds which can cause various hormonal disorders. Therefore, this product must be consumed in the recommended doses. It is a delicate product very concentrated in active principles. Let us return to organisation. The very young bees the nurses, have the role to produce the royal jelly with their glands, the nurses feeding the queen. They grow old and they become collectors or beehive protectors or scouts. When they grow very old, they are certainly unable to cope and they stay around the beehives, but they build. They begin to build the wax honeycombs, because that is when their wax glands are active. Do you see how well is their society organised? We must admit that it is a society of amazons, because the drone bees, which are also laid as eggs by the queen, are used only to mate with the queen, afterwards, becoming a consumer of the beehive and not producing anything, they are eliminated. Guide of good practice in the field of apiculture Do the Romanian apiculture and apiculturist have all the data necessary to deal with the competition? Cristina Mateescu: European funds were contracted in the field of apiculture, which shows the interest of the apiculturist in development. The members of the Association of Beekeepers, together with our specialists from the institute, participate in all the conferences where apiculturists are trained, a series of issues related to each specialty, the biology of the bee, prevention of interbreeding our bees with other species of bees, assurance of correct diet, hygiene and health condition for the bees are presented to them in order to obtain good quality product that can be verified. You have published a guide of good practices. Cristina Mateescu: The profession of apiculturist is recognised and, therefore, our institute is authorized to organise specialty courses for the profession of apiculturist. Of course, in order to support the apiculturists, the knowhow of out researchers was included in this book which is called The Book of the Student from which it can take all the data necessary from scientific perspective, but also the practical advices which are found in the Book of the Apiculturist published over time by ACA. Another contribution of the institute, together with the Association of Beekeepers, consisted in editing The Guide of Good Practice in Apiculture with the help of our specialists. We are trying everything we can to come with new products in order to support the 21

24 Rural Romania No 19 apiculturists and to facilitate their activity, but also to support the bees, which must be healthy, productive, docile and peaceful, just like the Romanian bee. Apiarian products and their beneficiaries Finally, let us also talk about apitherapy, the apiarian products and their beneficiaries. Cristina Mateescu: It is a subject that cannot be approached in just a few words, but in broad terms, we must say for each apiarian product used as raw material in various combinations for what was it good. Let us start from the ancient honey, the oldest dessert discovered by humans on earth. Honey depends on the apiculturist and his production technique. Therefore, we have the Guide of good practices, in order to teach apiculturists to produce their honey, in what conditions and how hygienic. If they do not overexpose it, if they do not store it in inadequate places, honey is good to ensure a correct functioning of cardiovascular system. Honey is also a good support for hepatic health, it helps children grow in size and height, it helps for an easier assimilation of calcium at the level of the bone system, it is if you want the best natural laxative, because it contains fructose. There is another controversy which, for me, is one of the challenges at the level of Apimondia Apitherapy Commission, whose vice-president I am, precisely to demonstrate to the people that the issue of infantile botulism caused by honey in babies is a matter strictly related to the rules of hygiene, which are complied with by apiculturists, and not to the fact that honey contains pores of this microbe. Thus, the issue is strictly related to hygiene, and what we must remind is that the specialty works mention that the lime-tree blossoms or other blossoms, medicinal plants can also contain this clostridium botulinium. These pores can also be found in the vacuum cleaner or in the house dust. The incrimination of honey is an issue which raises great concerns, because, at least at the level of our country, I do not think to have ever heard of a report which to certify the fact that honey is guilty of the onset of infantile botulism. Pollen is another product which forms the basis for the development of the bee family. Without pollen, bees cannot produce royal jelly, wax or venin. It is the basic protein food, it is essential for the health of the liver, because it contains essential and unessential amino acids which the body needs. The pollen contain natural vegetal fibre a little different from the cellulosic fibre. It is starch, which is considered to be the fibre of the future. Let us not forget that pollen is the male gametophyte, and it can help men who turned 50, being recommended in their diet precisely because it prevents the onset of some diseases, like inflammation of prostatic gland. 22

25 Another collection product, which the bee collects from the environment, is propolis, which can represent a great hope for the future of our natural health. Propolis is a mixture of raisins which provides to our body special antioxidant properties. Resveratrol and all kinds of antioxidants are currently used. Well, propolis contains many polyphenols. Propolis is a special immunity modulator, helping the immunity system, providing support for the patients who perform radiotherapy or chemotherapy in cancer treatment, being needless to remember its anti-tumoral action. We also mention the cardiovascular system, which it helps very much. It is useful in hepatic diseases, and it proves to be sufficiently efficient against hepatitis, and the list can go on. Then, we talk about products which belong to the bees, secretion products. We have mentioned the royal jelly, which is a true cocktail of B vitamins. There is no B vitamin which to not be part of the royal jelly composition. Therefore, it is useful in the conditions with vitamin deficiency or in diseases like retard, in neuro-psychomotor development of children. It is an extremely important neuro-transmitter, because it contains acetylcholine, amino acids and proteins, which help the restoration of hepatic cells. It is adjuvant in sexual dynamics disorders, because of its content of hormonal precursors. The royal jelly is very good in preventing osteoporosis, because, as I have previously mentioned, it helps to assimilate calcium at the level of the bone tissue. Bee venin also proved its efficacy for the health of the people because of its anti-inflammatory action. It is very useful in all forms of rheumatoid arthritis, even in multiple sclerosis, which is increasingly frequent because of the intoxication of our body over time with all sorts of chemical components. There are increasingly more cases of young people with this leuconevraxitis, meaning demyelination at the level of the central nervous tissue to which bee venin can intensely contribute, especially in incipient stages. Obviously, with a therapy combined with phytotherapy and with other beehive products. The idea of using the venin in cancer diseases, even in cosmetics for wrinkle removal but here I have some reserves, because the face skin is pretty sensitive, and the bee venin with apitoxin is pretty aggressive is increasingly implemented. There are also other derived products, like the virgin wax or beebread. It is the pollen stored by the bees as reserve. There is also another beehive product, the young crawling bees, from which the extract of drone grubs was created Apilarnil, which was discovered and registered by an old apiculturist, Nicolae Ilieșu. Let us not forget the wax without which the electronic, electrotechnical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry would cease to exist. 23

26 Rural Romania No 19 People A childhood passion has turned into a profitable business in adulthood Apiculture can be learnt in the smallest details and can become a lifestyle. At least that what Mihai Catalin Giurgilă from Targu-Frumos Iași County told us. He started from scratch, and he currently has a prosperous business, carries out European projects and learns others the secrets of apiculture. courtyard, and I insisted for them to initiate me at the age of My parents did not have beehives, but, wandering around the house of the teacher, I was fascinated of how he was working there, how he was getting out the frames from the hives, how he was looking and checking. Often, I sat for hours stack to his fence and asking the teacher various things, told us Mihai Catalin Giurgilă. Mihai Catalin Giurgilă is an apiculturist from Adjudeni Village, Tamaseni Commune, Neamț County. Although no one in his family has ever practiced apiculture, which is rarely encountered in his native village, he irremediably fell in love with it. I took and appropriated the passion for bees from the teacher from my native village, but also from another old man from a neighbour village. I liked see bees in their garden and The first beehive bought with the allowance money Charmed with all that he had found out, he asked his mother to buy him bees, but he also had other four brothers and the income of the family was not too great. Therefore, his dream could not become true. Still, his mother told him to learn more from the teacher. I went to the teacher and told him that I like bees and that I want to have this profession and to learn for me. Then, in the winter, the teacher called me to his house and gave me a book from the bookcase and told me to read it, and in the spring to come again to his house to teach me a lesson in the apiary. Also then, in order to make me curious, 24

27 he took me in the garden, took a hose and inserted it in a hive entrance and I listened how the bees were spending the winter. That was the first lesson, reminded the 34 years old apiculturist. Also then, I found out that, if the buzzing is like a sound made of leaves, the bees suffer of something, and if a strong and short buzzing is heard, it means that the wintering is normal. Even though, in the beginning, he could not make the distinction, the music of the small creatures seduced him, and he taught in time how to distinguish the sounds. He bought the first hive from his allowance, and during the first year, all his bees died. He was not discouraged and move forward. I began with 1-2 hives. In the first year, they died because that is what happens, but I was not disappointed. Back then, a hive was 80,000 Lei, said Mihai Catalin Giurgilă. Since then, I have always had hives in my parents garden, even when I went to school at Iași, where I graduated the Vocational School with the specialization Locksmith, and of Nicolina Mechanical High-School. Bee culture combined with music Also at Iași, he graduated Sfanta Cecilia Private School of Singers, School of Popular Arts from Iași, Canto Department, but also various courses of apiculture organized by the Poeni Institute of Apiarian Research and also one 6 month course organized at Iași by the Ministry of Agriculture: The harmony between me and the bees is also provided through music. They are both an art. If you do not love the bee, you have neither satisfaction, nor income. If you like the bees and you like to take care of them and if you give them what they need, it is impossible for them not to repay you. In exchange, you must be very careful, very serious, because apiculture cannot be delayed. The bee must be taken care of in due time, with love and skills. One should document and read all the time. Nowadays, apiculture is no longer done as our grandparents did it, and we have new technologies, said the apiculturist laughing, affirming that he has two professions that of apiculturist and that of singer and organist at Saint Anthony Roman- Catholic Church from Targu Frumos. Blog for the bees The young man also worked abroad, in the apiarian field and came back home with additional information. He is currently the one who helps future apiculturists, and besides advices, he also offered 30 families of bees. He also posts information on his personal blog, Totul despre apicultura: apicultorii.blogspot.ro/. I am surrounded by young people whom I helped, I gave them bee families, and their first question was about how much honey you can collect from a hive. I tell them to first ask how to take care of the hive in order to obtain performance. A good hive must provide around 24 kilograms of honey, if it is a good family. If you also collect the pollen and propolis, there are more things that are profitable in apiculture, but we, who practice pastoral apiculture, focus more on honey, the finished product, said the apiculturist. Prosperous business with money from EU Currently, the apiculturist practices stationary apiculture and, 25

28 Rural Romania No 19 occasionally, pastoral apiculture. The type of hive that he uses is the horizontal one with 18 frames, but he also have 10 families of vertical hives with storage room. The genetic material is very sought, meaning that we sell queens and families of bees. This way, we make more money, and with the help of the European Union and of the Romanian state, we have succeeded into developing a little more. The European Funds develop the Romanian apiculture, said Mihai Catalin Giurgilă, who executed projects under Measure 112 Settlement of the young farmers, and Measure 141 Support of semisubsistence agricultural farms. Thus, he started with 77 families of bees and he currently has 165 families, of which he sold a few, because in autumn, he prefers to unify them in order to not face risks during winter. Accessing European funds was not that easy, but he did not give up until he submitted the projects for accessing the two measures: After I finished school, I came in the area and leased a terrain, where I placed my apiary. When I heard that these European funds would be assigned, we started to take measures in order to access them. At first, it was very hard, because we were in the first or second session and nothing was clear, no one knew what was going to happen. When we went to submit the files from the city-hall, they chased me saying that no one would give me money for free. I was not discouraged and fought together with a friend from Iași, who is veterinarian, said the young apiculture. With the money obtained from these financings, he bought 5000 square meters of land, on which he planted plum and apple trees, he fenced the terrain and equipped it with water and electricity. All these he did only with the help of his wife, because, in this field, if the wife does not support you, you cannot succeed. The Romanian bee, queen on the territory of our country As variety, he uses Apis Mellifera Carpatica or the Romanian bee and he does not want to bring bees from abroad as other apiculturists do. It is very resistant during winter. People started bringing queens from Italy. The winter in Moldova saves us, but it also destroys us if we bring a queen from a warm area, like Italy or Spain. It will not resist here, because, genetically speaking, it is not made to resist to these cold and hard and long winters and we will lose them, said the young apiculturist, who does not agree with spoiling the Romanian breed, because it is a placid bee, which provides enough nectar. One of the issues faced by many apiculturists was the beehive bug. In Romania, because of the hard winters, which do not allow it to develop, it disappeared, but he continues to cause trouble to apiculturists 26

29 from other countries and mainly from the USA. During winter, in order to help the bees, Mihai Catalin Giurgilă prepares food for bees, although it is neither nice, nor correct. He puts them flat cakes on the nest, which he makes from honey with caster sugar or he buys from the Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture from Bucharest. During winter, there are not so many interventions, because bees need peace and quiet. The must not be disturbed or stressed. We prepare for other activities, like making frames, procuring certain things that we need in the active season. Those who practice pastoral apiculture, are already looking for locations in which to go. The activity is not so demanding. We could start reading or documenting to find out about new treatment, to read a specialty book or a magazine and to do certain auditory check-ups, said the apiculturist from Targu-Frumos, who advises his colleagues not to bather the bees during winter under any circumstance, especially if it has the necessary quantity of honey. It is important to know, especially by the young apiculturists, that the bee must be placed on cotton and noise should not be made near the hives. For the bees, it is essential to live well during winter, to have food, treatments started around August 15th, and quiet. He said that you must love these creatures, which are so delicate, otherwise, the results shall not be good. He also has an advice for the young people who want to access European funds: not to trifle this profession. 27

30 Rural Romania No 19 Apiculture, from hobby to lifestyle Ionel Emil Drăgan is an entrepreneur from Banat, who, after attempting to develop small businesses in several fields, focused on apiculture. He started with 20 beehives and he currently has over 170. He wishes to sweeten the world and he thinks that apiculture should be studied in school in order to constantly develop.. Ionel Emil Drăgan from Banat has first considered apiculture a hobby, wanting to relax in the middle of the nature, after 30 years of urbanisation. Returned in his native village, he purchased over 20 colonies (families) of bees, and after two years, apiculture became both passion and business. I have started a few years ago, when I was thinking that in 10 years I would retire and I would need a consistent income, because state and private pensions cannot cover the needs of a family of seniors. I have started with 20 beehives and ended up with over 170. I say over because winter is not gone and, the apiculturists count their bees in the summer, and, within the last years, the mortality during winter has increased because of the diseases, cold and lack of harvesting in the autumn, sometimes exceeding 10% of the effectives, told us the apiculturist, who sells honey, propolis, pollen and wax. The sale takes place on the free market, at apiarian fairs and on the internet, in online stores or on socialisation networks. The correctly practiced apiculture is a safe business If some fields and professions appear and disappear on/from the market, apiculture is one of the ancient trades which continues and which is increasingly liked. Moreover, apiculture is a noble trade, which helps the development of several agricultural fields with the pollination made by bees. But the business becomes profitable after a few years from the moment you begin to involve. In general, within the first threefive years, it is not a business. After five years of investments and development it can turn into a business, if it is correctly practiced and if the weather conditions are favourable. A family of two four persons can live from it only with minimum beehives. Because of the low prices of apiarian products in Romania, if you have less than 100 beehives, you cannot live only from apiculture, said the apiculturist. 28

31 A more efficient support is necessary The apiarian field from Romania developed due to measures 112 and 141 enforced under the National Rural Development Programme within programming period. A current challenge is the modification of the economic size unit (ESU) in National Rural Development Programme. Few of the issues currently faced by apiculturists refer to the uncontrolled use of pesticides by other farmers, which kill the bees, lack of association and the small amounts granted by processors 50% of the retail price a price much too low as compared to the carried out work. It would be useful to have apiarian cooperatives, which to provide purchase, processing and promotion services in the country and abroad. Apiculture should be studied in school With regard to the production of honey, Romania ranks third at European level, after Spain and Italy. For a constant development of this sector, a greater reengineering, the restoration of melliferous basis and even the decrease of VAT are necessary. The selling VAT is a difficulty for apiarian producers which are legal persons, and for those who are natural persons, it is a burden when purchasing the necessary equipment, said Ionel Emil Drăgan. He considers that the development of apiculture should begin in the education systems, especially in vocational schools. This field could be promoted in rural schools through optional apiculture courses, with the help of volunteer apiculturists. I would create in each euro-region an apiarian research centre for the improvement and development of genetic material and also for the research and treatment of the new diseases. I would stimulate the establishment of apiarian cooperatives in each euro-region and I would create a honey brand for each one of them, said the apiculturist from Banat, who believes that each of those who work in this field should attend qualification courses. Another step should be made for the intensification of veterinary controls in order to prevent the extension of diseases and foci. 29

32 Rural Romania No 19 Servant at the court of Apis Mellifera Carpatica Queen Our story takes place at a royal court, as we have already suggested in the title. The royal court of the Romanian bee, called by the science people apis mellifera carpatica, was established here, on the territory of Romania under specific pedoclimatic influence and conditions, but especially due to an exceptional melliferous base in this area. It is said that Romania is the paradise of bees, and the autochthonous orchards are true citadels of these creatures. It can be said, without any doubt, that this occupation, the apiculture, is one of the sectors of the agriculture with the oldest tradition. Our ancestors, the Dacians, bred bees from which they obtained honey, wax and other apiarian products. Herodotus, the father of history himself, attested in the 5th century B.C. the existence of bees at the North of Danube, writing that With regard to bees, they are so many on the left bank of the Danube that they prevent people from passing forward. This is the first documentary attestation of apiculture on the territory of Romania. There are, also, multiple historical documents, archaeological discoveries and folkloric sources which prove the uninterrupted continuity of apiculture in Carpathian- Danube-Pontic space. When imitation proved to be valuable... Our hero was destined to breed bees. Well, how could it be different, if his Veceslav Harnaj unique in the world s apiculture He was born on November 7th, 1917 at Baimaclia, Causeni District, Basarabia, and he died on October 28th, 1988, at Bucharest. He was an eminent scientist, university professor, founder of modern Romanian apiculture. Together with many close collaborators from the field of science, who were occupied with bee breeding, Professor Veceslav Harnaj succeeded to establish the Association of Beekeepers from Romania. In 1965, the eminent Romanian scientist was elected the President of the International Association of Apiculturists, also known as APIMONDIA. Until that date, the status of this world forum provided that a person cannot be elected president for more than two five year mandates. At the end of the second mandate, as appreciation of his competence, the general meeting decided to change the status of APIMONDIA. This way, Veceslav Harnaj was the president of this federation until 1985, when the health no longer allowed him to occupy that position. Still, after 1985, he was elected honorary president until his death. 30

33 parents named him Albinel (Bee). And not by accident. His grandfather, who was apiculturist, was often in the presence of the illustrious scientist Veceslav Harnaj, who also had a son named Albinel. Therefore, it is no wonder that he followed the example of such man. Especially that he shared his passion. Why would not he want for his grandchild to bear the name destined to practice apiculture? Moreover, his grandson liked the famous savant: For me, said Albinel Firescu, the great scientist Veceslav Harnaj was and will be an example to follow. Apiculture integral part of ethnography of Romanian people apiaries or plots for the placement of the beehives. According to archive documents issued by the office of the ruler Constantin Brancoveanu, the merchants from Venice bought large quantities of wax, which was used to caulk the Venetian ships. In conclusion, observes Albinel Firescu, apiculture is a traditional occupation of Romanian people, but also a lifestyle, the traditional honey being used as medicament or food (especially on the fasting days). The noble trade of apiculturist taught from childhood But, my great love were and still are the bees, said Albinel Firescu. He spent his childhood in a village from a valley, somewhere between forests, with rich melliferous flora and many beehives. He ran between the apiary and books together with his grandfather: In the morning, we went and take care of the bees, and at noon, The path of life has apparently taken another direction than the destined one. Victor Albinel Firescu is one of the Romanian people who love history and rural life, he studied the evolution of material and spiritual culture in the capacity of ethnographer at Gorj County Museum, graduate of the Fac-ulty of History from Craiova and doctor in ethnography. In the capacity of ethnographer, he is the organizer of numerous outdoor exhibitions at the Museum of Popular Architecture from Curtisoara, in which numerous stages from the past of the artisans and extinct customs were paraded. Still, he did not go too far from the passion planted in his soul by his grandfather; he made detailed ethnographic researches in the apiarian field in the area of Oltenia, saying that ethnography and apiculture intertwine. He was happy to discover the first forms of beehives, those made from wood logs or weaved branches, with a later thematic evolution on systematic beehives, Dadant beehives as they were made from two rows of planks in the mid-dle with shaving coating, two such types of older boxes, from the 60s, be-ing donated to «Arghezi» Museum from Martisor. It is worth mentioning the fact that in the feudal period, donation documents were issued, being drafted by the Romanian rulers with regard to 31

34 Rural Romania No 19 we sat down and read the poems of Eminescu, Arghezi who was also apiarian -, the novels of Liviu Rebreanu and Ion Agarbiceanu. Is it possible for someone to grow rich from apiculture? It is a natural question in this field of activity. Albinel Firescu said that he had received an answer and one of the first advices from an old apiculturist when he was still in school. Back then, he was going to the Association of Apiculturists from Craiova in order to procure standard honeycombs. It was there where he met an 80 year old man who told him: My dear Albinei, you should not take what it belongs to it because it s a pity. It will get you out of any difficulty with the sting, provided that you do not take its honey reserve with which it must go through winter. Then, I told him as follows: You will be an apiculturist! You will not be sad! You will not be poor, but you will not grow rich! But, do not forget the condition: respect the bee. One s who thinks himself and pokes the light (Tudor Arghezi) As apiculturist, Albinel Firescu currently has approximately two hundred beehives in Mehedinti County, in a locality near Stehaia, where he was born. In 2009, he received a financial support of approximately EUR 18,000, an amount which he wished it was greater, but that was all that was permitted by the conditions imposed then by measure 112 Settlement of the young farmers. He says that if you have now 120 beehives, like he had back then, you might receive more. And he also adds: I think that if I received then somewhere around EUR 50,000, I would have given up any job and I would have focused only on the farm. He used the money according to the project which provided that one third to be directly invested in the farm, the rest being necessary for the settlement of the young farmer. He bought a honey extractor for 20 frames, a steam wax melting tank, a solarium, 59 new beehive boxes the other ones he renewed at his expense every year, boxes per year. He is happy that he could erect a building in which to store his machines, beehive boxes wax moths were no longer a problem which determined him every year to melt 500 honeycombs and the exploitation conditions improved. With the same efforts one made for families, 200 bee hives can be owned. It was an impulse for me. I started using a better technology, I consulted with other apiculturists from which I learnt new techniques and, in this way, I developed. The association is good until it stumbles He is member of ProApis Association, which is located in Drobeta Turnu Severin and which comprises an area around Caransebes County, Mehedinti County and a part from Gorj County and Dolj County. He is happy that inside the association he succeeded to convince a part of his colleagues who had bee families to access funds under measure 141 Support of semi-subsistence agricultural farms. And they even succeeded. There are apiculturists who did not exceed ten families and the currently have beehives. It is a great joy for me, too. Unfortunately, the spirit of disso-lution spirit is also present here as in most of the Romanian associations. We have tried to establish a small factory in which to bottle our honey, with labels, but it was the same as in the fable with the crawfish, the frog and the pike. Unfortunately, we have not reach any result. He thinks that this shortcoming of Romanian people of not getting along with each other is in their genes, because the problem is older than that suggested by most of the people nowadays, referring to the reaction to forced collectivisation from the communist period. As ethnologist, he reminds of the description made by Constantin Radulescu-Motru in Psihologia poporului roman written in 1935: The Romanians do not like companionship. They want to be on their own. The absolute master at home. With a small part of prop-erty, irrespective of how small, but to belong to him. This is why he in-clines a little towards anarchism. Marketing, a problem also for apiculturists He told us that he has collaborated for a period with a company about which he said that it operates a little more correct than others, meaning that they buy honey based on the test which they do at my place, I do not have to carry the cans and barrels 32

35 with me, and they are very seriously done, at Brussels, not anywhere. Afterwards, it respects our identity and the jar placed on the shelves of the stores has written on its label: produced at the farm of Albinel, meaning that they do not mix the honeys as others, who take one ton of acacia honey from me, one or two tons from another and so on, and afterwards they mix it and call it: acacia honey from Oltenia or Romania. It is better to be personalized also because, on the one hand, it determines the apiculturists to be more responsible, otherwise, the market considers him, and on the other hand, any suspicion with regard to those who make quality honey is eliminated. He sells his honey on the internal market. He says that it is very hard for a small producer to draft the documents for the export. The processers export. The associations are pretty weak to process their honey by themselves at minimum costs. But, in his opinion, even the internal market is crowded with products originated from China and from God knows where, with all sorts of energizers, which the unexperienced buyer cannot distinguish, especially because they do not read the label. There are expensive products, which are of low quality. Bio would be possible, but not too easy Albinel Firescu says that honey leaves from us with the indication conven-tional honey, which means that it could be considered bio honey, but the legislation imposes some rules and apiculturists cannot comply with them because they do not have means. There are too few certification bodies, there are not many bio products which to use in our production process (medicinal products, honeycombs), without which we are not certified. And even if we succeed and find quality honeycombs which might comply, unfortunately, they do not have bio certification. Then, the conversion pe-riod is very hard. For example, I had the new boxes bought as a result of the project, painted with water-based paint; the old ones, which were more numerous, had oil-based paint in order to resist better against bad weather, because I have my apiary on the ground, not in a pavilion, not doing pastoral apiculture. Well, I did not obtain certification, not even for those painted with water-based paint, because the entire farm should have complied with the imposed conditions. I should have had separate premises for honey extraction and for equipment storage. And therefore, I quit. More from the Romanian research He feels the need of an intense involvement of the state in supporting this branch. And he would like to be invested more in the field of research. I had an exception apiarian centre, the apiarian institute makes that treatment against varoosis, which is of very good quality. He considers that many technologies from abroad are not very good. He even calls the import of queens from other countries biological pollution. I took 20 queens of which six or seven died, and from the others, only five were productive. I do not think it is normal to place plastic honeycombs on the frames or, like some say, to administrate the treatment with amitraz, a substance used in sheep, not in bees. He is very angry because he can find in Romania only sugar obtained from cane for the food of the bees in difficult periods. He does not understand why beet sugar is no longer produced, being much better. He is forced to buy all sorts of substances as substituents, which are obtained from corn and which he does not trust. Inventor with patent and medal He always considered himself an apiculturist with sufficient experience, saying it with a great deal of modesty, because unforeseen situations might occur at any time, necessitating adaptation and improvisation. Therefore, an idea was born, which led to the construction of a device unique in the field of apiculture. He made a feeder equipped with a support for bees. With this invented device, he participated at the International Exhibition of Inventions from Geneva in The judges appreciated the invention, and the author received the bronze medal. He was first appreciated for the novelty in the field and secondly for the fact that the construction has a bee feeding system with stimulating effect or for the supplementation of the food reserves for passing the winter. Such device ensures this feeding inside the beehive, completely eliminating the danger of theft of the food of the bees and also the risk for the bees of drowning in the respective syrup. 33

36 Rural Romania No 19 Experiences My farm For a former locksmith, apiculture means passion and profit Iulian Zamfir from Racoviteni, Buzău County, started the business 22 years ago with two beehives, of which one was empty. He currently has 230 families, he did a project under Measure 112 in amount of EUR 19,000 and he continues to work in order to extend his business. Iulian Zamfir is currently one of the greatest apiculturists from the county and has a story worthy of a movie script. The profession of Iulian Zamfir from Racoviteni, Buzău County, is lock-smith. He graduated from Metaloglobus Industrial High-School from Bucharest prior to 1989, and afterwards, he worked at Suveica Enterprise from Bucharest. After 1990, because of the social realities, he returned home, at Racoviteni, where he started to breed animals: cows, oxen, goats, and to work the land, namely three hectares. He has never given up animal breed-ing, but he also has rabbits and pigeons. Due to his animals, in 1993, he started to do apiculture. We had oxen with which we plough, and I went with a neighbour to a boy from Udrea, to plough. In the evening, he asked us how much it would cost, and seeing that he had two beehives near the house, I asked to give them to me. He said that one is empty and only one is full. Neither he, nor me had apiculture knowledge. And this were my beginnings in apiculture. From two beehives, said Iulian Zamfir. More bee families with the help of European funds From two beehives, the apiculturist from Racoviteni currently has 230 bee families. He says that he could not reach this number, if it was not for the European funds. I did a project under Measure 112, for the young farmers. I owe a lot to Mr Socol Dumitru, the engineer from APIA Buzău, who helped us, said Iulian Zamfir, one of the first applicants from the county under Measure 112 Settlement of young farmers. The total amount of the project submitted in 2009 was of EUR 19,000. I had 121 bee families back then, and afterwards, I developed 230 families of which I can also make swarms. 34

37 But I do not have authorization for this and I cannot do something like that. I also gave bees to people who liked apiculture the same as I did, and not in exchange of money. I gave them to have as a hobby, the same as I did, but in my case, it subsequently transformed in a daily work, said the apiculturist from Buzău who stole the knowledge in the field from an apiculturist. He was going to help him with the extractions and transportation, because he liked bees, and seeing him so ambitious, he urged him to become an apiculturist. I have learnt everything from my friend, Dumitru Ionel, who had over 100 families. He worked at Apicola Candesti and I have succeeded thanks to him. There are many hardships in the field of apiculture, but the satisfactions are also significant, said Iulian Zamfir. Although one year ago he did not succeed to do anything, as he says, apiculture is an affordable field. He produces acacia, lime, sun-flower honey, and he no longer produces rape honey because of the weather, last year being rainy and cold. He valorises honey through the agency of large firms which process and bottle honey. Being in love with the bees, he says that if people were organized as they are, do you realize how much better it would be? His passion for these small creatures did not pass to his son, who graduated from an agricultural highschool. Moreover, he is in the 3rd year at the University of Polytechnics, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. He helps me very much in the field of apiculture, but he told me that he cannot stay with me and do this job, because he does not make a lot of money from it. But, I am pleased. I lived my life. Children have other mentality, said the apiculturist. Even though his son does not want to follow his footsteps, the apiculturist from Buzău is thinking of developing his business. The following step will be to purchase an apiarian waggon or even two. I cannot quit apiculture. One year ago, I invested almost two tons of sugar. No one believes me, concluded Ioan Zamfir. The apiculturist from Buzău wants to develop his business Besides increasing the number of families, the accession of European funds has helped him purchase other equipment necessary for carrying out this business in good conditions. Thus, he purchased from beehives to apiary cotton, honey extractor, generator, even an apiarian caravan approximately everything that is necessary in apiculture. It would be easier for him to transport the bees with a wagon, but he does not have one yet because the weather conditions from last year were unfavourable. 35

38 Rural Romania No 19 My community Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca, Giurgiu County The organized apiculture provides added value to the village The apiculturists associated within the Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca, Giurgiu County, have understood that they are stronger and they can evolve more rapidly together. One can obtain satisfactory profits and can start a business, which to provide long term satisfactions. The professionalism, the respect for the bees and the development of theoretical skills are other key elements in the field of apiculture. The need to associate is a reality characteristic to the entire apiarian field. Thus, it was almost impossible for the apiculturists from Giurgiu County not to deal with this aspect. The Apiarian Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca, Giurgiu County, was established in 2009, being registered on Jan-uary 23rd, after a few apiculturists understood its importance and the force they can have in such organisation. The establishment was supported by the County Office for Agricultural Consultancy, as its president, Alexandru Petcu, told us: We can say that the union of the apiculturists from the county was due to the old Romanian saying «necessity is the mother of inven-tion»... We wanted to establish this cooperative which to be affordable, resistant to the competition of the market. Then, the possibility to access European funds is simpler when you are part of a cooperative or a group of producers. Once established under the Law no. 566/2004, a group of 50 apiculturists, who complied with the respective conditions, could access the European funds, under Measures 141 and 112. The scope of Measure 112 was the settlement of young farmers, and the scope of Measure 141 was the support of semi-subsistence farms. In 2014, the first apiculturists who were granted European funds successfully implemented the projects. The cooperative currently works to attract new funds for its member apiculturists. Own store, exchanges of experience, professional progress Even if the start was hard, the same as any start, but also because of the mentality of older apiarian structures, according to Alexandru Petcu, the activity got into a normal rut. Currently, six years after the establishment, the Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca of apiculturists from Giurgiu County is one of the most dynamic in the country. This is also proven by the fact that it has its own store, in the city of Giurgiu. Moreover, on a 70 m2 area, the apiculturists can find everything they need, especially that they process honey. We also collaborate with honey processing factories, namely Apicola Pastoral Georgescu SRL from Jilava, Tremot Dobre si Fiii SRL and also with the factory from Bragadiru, which is closer, told us the president of the cooperative. Moreover, with all these steps they have succeeded to do several visits in or-der to exchange experience, like, for example, the one to Luxemburg, 36

39 the one in Bulgaria at Varna, the one in Austria at Graz. For 2015, it is desired to take a thematic trip together with the apiculturists from Belgrade. This form of organisation is very good, because it brings the apiculturist to his own store. All he has to do is to follow his professional evolution, and the other issues related to his activity are solved by the management of the cooperative. I would like to thank the Ministry of Agriculture because in the autumn of 2014 it helped us with that government decision for de minimis aid for apiculture, a very good thing, because, 2014 was not a very good year, added Alexandru Petcu. In 2014, the apiculturists had a rainy year, and most of the time, the bees sat in the hives. The Romanian queens are adapted to the climatic conditions from our country One of the issues faced by the apiculturists from Giurgiu County is that related to the queens, considering that the Romanian queen, Apis Mellifera Carpatica, started to be aggressed by queens from other areas, which are not adapted to our climatic conditions. The apiculturists from this cooperative have purchased queens only from the Apiarian Institute from Bucharest, which adapt very well to our climatic conditions. This has was also facilitated based on National Apiarian Programme, which offers the possibility to the apiculturist, through association, to benefit from a discount of the product price. Another issue of apiculturists is related to the Ordinance no. 195/2005 regarding the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides that kill the bees. Last year at Izvoarele, Slobozia de Giurgiu and Bolintin Deal, many bees died, and our «collaborators» found us guilty, which is not true. We Young people open to association Lately, increasingly more young people showed their interest in this form of organisation. Currently, the Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca, Giurgiu County reached 113 members, of which many are young, maybe also attracted by the way in which the other members chose to manifest their support towards them. Thus, the General Meeting has approved the award of diplomas every year for the youngest apiculturist, but also for the oldest apiculturist. But this is not the only benefit provided to its members. The Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca, Giurgiu County, helped the farmers by supporting them to attend qualification curses related to the trade of apiculturist and to obtain a participation certificate from a higher vocational education unit. This vocational education unit is organised on annual basis by the Directorate General for Rural Development, which helps the apiculturist to come in contact with the latest achievements in the field of apiculture. As evidence of this preoccupation, we have two young apiculturists who attended courses dedicated to queen breeders and sellers at county level, said Alexandru Petcu. 37

40 Rural Romania No 19 do not have any problem with the farmers, but with the decisional factors, which are greater than we are, and some irregularities result from here. Let us hope that 2015 will be a good year in which honey producers and beneficiaries will be satisfied, said the president of the cooperative. Sooner or later, the results of the cooperatives will be seen Aristita Zlate is one of the first members enrolled in the Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca, Giurgiu County, and she actively participates both in honey production and in promoting this idea of cooperation. Sooner or later, the results of the cooperatives will be seen. Those who are reticent will face the issue of not being part of a cooperative, because they will not be able to access European funds or to deliver the honey, not having an authorized form and not being part of an association. But this will be decided by them and the time solve everything, said the apiculturist. Aristita Zlate told us that she did not have a family tradition related to bee breeding, but being forced to give up her job, she considered apiculture a business. Little by little, she also fell in love with this trade. From her point of view, if people took over at least half of the organisation of bees and the division of the work in a beehive, it would be excellent. Moreover, there would be only agricultural cooperatives from all the sectors of agriculture. She started the bee business from scratch, after a former work colleague asked her to bring into her courtyard a few families of bees for mating. Being curious, she began asking more and more questions and she was fascinated by the way in which bees worked. She received as a gift three frames and then she began investing and developing. Bees, wonderful flying insects which are constantly aggressed Although she did not get rid of bee stings, Aristita Zlate says that she is lucky that is not allergic. The aggressors are not the bees, but the people, who do not take them into consideration and use substances that kill them. They are flying insects that are great for humans, but they aggress them with all possible means. The satisfactions provided to us by bees are much greater than what we provide to them, and the poor creatures are bombarded with all sorts of aggressors. I would make a statue for those who succeed to feed these people, but there are some farmers who are not at all decent and use substances that aggress very much the bees and whole apiaries are depopulated because of this reason, said Aristita Zlate. From her perspective, if selective substances were used for the bees, everyone would be happy. But, for a rapid profit, some people also use forbidden substances and they are not sanctioned or at least controlled by the authorized institutions. They are not warned in any way by the institutions who should monitor them and sometimes draw their attention, like the Office for Environmental Police or the Phytosanitary Directorate. I had to face some issues and I thought that these institutions are a sort of fire fighters. When I called, I was told to send an or to submit a written notification. From this perspective, I thought it was a slow modality to help, told us the apiculturist. 38

41 Another issue faced by Mrs Zlate is related to the protection of agricultural cultures. Although city-halls should inform apiculturists when herbicides are used, this does not always happen. Moreover, during the blooming period, the law clearly states that only selective substances are used, this provision not being always complied with. But, with all these troubles, this business has been offering both moral and material satisfactions for more than 15 years. All must be done with professionalism and it must be considered that association is one of the keys of success. Moreover, apiculture is a serious and very interesting investment. I wish everyone thought about the bees in order to no longer bombard them with so many pesticides and to learn from the experience of others, because smart people learn from the mistakes of others, not from theirs. I move the bees from the respective location, if I am notified that herbicides are used, but you cannot notify the other pollinators ants, butterflies. It is a pity that some people do not also think about what we leave behind, concluded Aristita Zlate. derived products I extract from the hive only in very hygienic conditions, with a laboratory at European standards, said Petrica Togoe, who started his theoretical training after graduating an initiation course organised by the Agricultural Chamber of Giurgiu County. Afterwards, he attended other training and specialization courses. He wishes to double his bee family effective and to purchase more efficient equipment and one bottling line. Export facilitated by the Branch Union of Apiarian Agricultural Cooperatives He valorises his products both on the market from Romania and on the market from the European Union, in Germany and France, where he got with the help of the Branch Union of Apiarian Agricultural Cooperatives, to which the Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca, Giurgiu County, is affiliated. This was facilitated to me by the Branch Union. We have other colleagues which are in the honey bottling and packing business, like those from Alexandria, Bragadiru de Teleorman, who have a manufacturing line. Also with European funds, under Measure 121 Modernisation of agricultural holdings, I have invested and purchased a bottling line. We collaborate in order to collect a quantity of honey from certain colleagues from the cooperative and we store it at Bragadiru, and from here, it is delivered to the beneficiaries abroad and on the Romanian market, in hypermarkets, said Petrica Togoe. His products are also sold in the store of the Apiarian Agricultural Cooperative from Prisaca, but also at agri-food markets, fairs and exhibitions. A clear guarantee of the quality of the apiarian products is given by the fact that each apiary owned by the members of this cooperative, who accessed European funds, is sanitary and veterinary authorized. Apiculturists can develop their business by association Petrica Togoe understood that association is one of the natural steps which he has to do in order to develop his business, especially because the accession of European funds implied the enrolment into an association. The materials necessary for this field or the medicinal products are supplied in more advantageous conditions. If before accessing Measure 141 he had 25 beehives, he currently owns 90 families of bees and he intends to develop. But this was not the only step forward that he made. According to the business plan, I also purchased efficient equipment. I bought an electrical honey extractor with control panel, stainless steel equipment, I built a honey extraction laboratory for all the products. All beehive 39

42 Rural Romania No 19 Updated Leader Asociatia Angustia Egyesület Local Action Group Asociatia Angustia Egyesület Local Action Group was established in September, 2010, and on January 20th, 2011, LAG signed the Financing Contract with the Regional Centre of Payments for Rural Development and Fishing, by which the area benefits of 2.9 million Euro. Angustia Egyesület LAG, with the registered office in Estelnic Commune, includes 12 localities from the area of Targu Secuiesc, Covasna County: Brețcu, Cătălina, Cernat, Estelnic, Ghelința, Lemnia, Mereni, Ojdula, Poian, Sânzieni, Turia and Zăbala. Angustia Egyesület LAG is a partnership between the local administrations, county administration and member communal private entities. Procurement of equipment at a farm in which energetic willow is cultivated A successful project of Asociația Angustia Egyesület LAG is Procurement of equipment at innovative farm submitted in session, having as beneficiary an Individual Enterprise from Poian, Covasna County. With this investment project, Domokos F. Árpád Intreprindere Individuala intends to equip the farm with the equipment necessary for the cereal and energetic willow cultivation technology. With this project, it was desired to procure two tractors, the first with HP, and the second with HP. The system used to harvest the energetic willow cultures is provided with cutting blades. The tractor is equipped with a plough with 4+1 bodies with turning system, rotating harrow with 4 m operating height, cutter with cm operating depth, herbicide device with m operating width (wing), equipment conceived for planting between 4 and 6 rows of energetic willow at the same time, at a planting depth of cm. The total value of the project is EUR 399,940, of which the non-reimbursable aid is of EUR 199,970, the private co-financing being of EUR 199, 970. Through a good utilisation of human resources and production factors, Domokos F. Árpád Întreprindere Individuala obtains large productions and high quality. For example, in the 40

43 case of energetic willow, the production is of tons per hectare, in the case of corn kernels, of 5800 kg per hectare, and in the case of triticale, of 3500 kg per hectare. Based on the campaigns for the awareness of the necessity to adopt renewable energy sources, an increase of biomass consumption is recorded. There is a trend of development in the case of small electrical current centres based on the biomass from plantations. The continuous increase of gas price shall generate a transfer to cheaper alternative energy sources, especially in the case of the companies from the food industry and for industrial hall heating. The willow twig market is increasing. In our area, there is available workforce. Thus, there is the possibility to valorise the entire row of economic and social opportunities with favourable effects on the development of the local rural economy. 41

44 Rural Romania No 19 Ceahlăul Local Action Group Ceahlăul Local Action Group was established in 2010 as a result of the association of 13 representatives from the public rural field and of 28 representatives from the private and civil society field, willing to get involved in the development of Ceahlău micro-region. The territory included in Ceahlău LAG is geographically homogeneous, being located in the North-East devel-opment region: 12 localities are part of Neamț County (Bicaz, Tașca, Bicazu Ardelean, Bicaz Chei, Damuc, Hangu, Poiana Teiului, Grințieș, Ceahlăul, Fărcașa, Borca and Pipirig), and one commune from Suceava County (Râșca). All localities are part of the Disadvantaged Mountain Area, but they are also included in the Agricultural Area with Increased Natural Value. Also, the territory included in Ceahlău LAG has the same economic homogeneity. Thus, the localities have a similar economic structure, carry out the same types of activities, dispose of similar resources and deal with the same issues. The advantages of Ceahlău micro-region are represented by the low degree of pollution of this area, the high level of biodiversity, rich forests and wild-life, existence of important natural resources (freshwater, mineral, sulphur-ous and salted springs), construction materials, special floristic and fauna resources, important landscape resources, existence of protected areas of national interest and karstic formations with high touristic potential. At the same time, the existence of wide areas of pastures in this micro-region can support the development of zootechnical farms. In this context, starting from the problems identified at the level of the 13 localities included in Ceahlău microregion, approached in an integrated framework and corre-lated with the objective of the European Agricultural Fund of Rural Devel-opment and with the local development potential, using LEADER approach up from down, Local Development Strategy (SDL) was de-veloped, being selected for financing in the first session of SDL submittal within the 4th LEADER axis, by the Management Authority for the National Rural Development Programme (AM-PNDR). Strategic development priorities As a result of the social and economic analyses and of the consultation with local communities, the following strategic development priorities were established: tourism development; valorisation of local resources; increase of economic attractiveness. Thus, during programming period, Ceahlău LAG manages non-reimbursable funds of EUR 2,159,020, of which EUR 1,736,380 is the budget for the projects which can be implemented at micro-region level, in accordance with the identified strategic development priorities. Until now, at the level of our association, 31 projects were contracted, totalizing EUR 1,734,072, representing 99.87% of the total assigned amount. Of the 31 projects, 23 were contracted by the representatives of the public sector (LAG member communes), whose value accounts for 74% of the total non-reimbursable assigned amount, and 8 projects were contracted by the representatives of the private sector, whose value accounts for 25.81% of the public non-reimbursable assigned amount. The natural environment is one of the main symbols of Ceahlău micro-region, but also one of the main resources which the economic development of the component localities depends upon. Because of clearing or degradation of the forests and also of the lack of utilities and services of protection against floods, the works for the consolidation of embankments and regulation of 42

45 water streams in several communes on the territory of the association, a vulnerability of the rural human communities exposed to a major risk of flooding was ascertained. In this context, under the current strategy, non-reimbursable funds totalizing EUR 434,270 were assigned for the projects regarding infrastructure restoration and modernization works and flood prevention and protection works. The assigned amount was completely contracted, eight of the thirteen communes benefiting by non-reimbursable funds dedicated to this type of investment, the average amount being EUR 53,000 per project. Five contracted projects were completed and implemented in Tasca, Bicaz Chei, Damuc, Pipirig and Grinties, and three other projects are still in the process of implementation in Hangu, Farcasa and Bicazu Ardelean, having the completion term on Ceahlău LAG project successfully implemented in Tasca, Neamț County A successful project is that implemented in Neagra Village, Tasca Commune, Neamț County. The project referred to the fit-out of Morii torrent by correcting the bottom on 280 linear meters and execution of 560 linear meters of newly built dams. Tasca is located in the South-Western part of Neamț County, in the proximity of the city of Bicaz, being crossed by the national road DN 12 C, Piatra- Neamț Gheorghieni. In this commune there are torrents which cross the territory, occupying terrains constituted in river beds and embankments located between the built-up area and the outside of the built-up area of the locality, unproductive plots, which are part of the public domain. Also, the precipitations are abundant in the area, determining flooding of plots and houses of the population. Analysing the necessities of the communities regarding the prevention of economic losses by reducing the risk of flooding in rural areas and of the forest and agricultural land, it was established that the priorities are the works for the correction of the torrents in order to prevent flooding. In this context, Tașca Commune has submitted at Cahlau LAG the project Fit-out of Morii torrent, Neagra Village, Tașca Commune, Neamț County on under Measure c, Session no 5 on project call launching. On , it was selected at LAG level for financing, and on , the financing contract was signed with the Agency of Payments for Rural Development and Fishing (APDRP). The amount of the project was EUR 68,505, of which EUR 47,912 was non-reimbursable financing, and EUR 20,593 private contribution. The project was implemented from until (the date when the final work acceptance protocol was concluded). The main activities carried out in the project were as follows: - organisation and execution of the procurement procedure for the award of the contracts of consultancy for the implementation of the project and of construction and torrent correction works; - execution of construction works by using natural material in accordance with the environment: rock and wood; - drafting and submittal of the payment application for the reimbursement of the incurred expenses. The impact on the community by making this investment was of protection of an area of 19.5 ha by creating the conditions for the drainage of the water in case of freshets without flooding, embankment erosions and alluvial deposit transportation, by building canals, drains, thresholds and dams. Therefore, within the short period of implementation of the local development strategy and of operation of the association, it was demonstrated that, based on its specificity, LEADER approach can contribute to a balanced development of the territory of Ceahlău micro-region. The involvement of the local factors in the development of the areas in which they are active can contribute to a dynamic local development based on a local development strategy prepared, implemented and managed by LAG representatives. 43

46 Rural Romania No 19 News and events National transitory aids for ovine and caprinae The quantum of the national transitory aids in zootechnical sector for ovine and caprinae breeds, for the applications submitted in 2014, was approved by the Government of Romania. According to the project of the Ministry of Agriculture, the amount of these aids must be up to 275,651 thousand Lei, which is provided from the state budget through the amount approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for The quantum of the provided premiums is calculated by referring the total amount to the effective of eligible animals. The procedure of APIA paid almost 800 million Euro to the vegetal sector The Agency of Payments and Intervention for Agriculture (APIA) informs that, from the beginning of this year and until February 10th, 2015, it has authorised and made total payments to beneficiaries in amount of 3.5 billion Lei, which account for 799 million Euro, being mainly intended for the applications for payments per area submitted by the farmers in the Campaign from Thus, from January 20th, 2015 until February 10th, 2015, the payment was made for approximately one million farmers, in amount of million Euro, representing the final SAPS payment, having as financing source the European Agricultural Guarantee granting the provided premium is regulated by the Order of the Minister of Agriculture no. 573/2014 for the approval of the modality of implementation, specific conditions, eligibility criteria, reference terms and of the model of application for granting the national transitory aids in zootechnical sector for bovine, ovine and caprinae breeds and of specific aids for cow milk and beef producers and sheep or goat milk and mutton producers from the disadvantaged areas in 2014, as subsequently amended and supplemented. Over 680 million Lei national transitory aids for bovine The total amount for the national transitory aids in zootechnical sector for bovine breed, for the applications submitted in 2014, shall be over 680 million lei, according to a Government Decision draft. The amount assigned for the payment shall be distributed as follows: 130,710,000 Lei for the uncoupled production scheme in the milk sector; 549,313 thousand Lei for the uncoupled production scheme in the meat sector. The quantum of the national transitory aids in zootechnical sector for bovine breed, for the applications submitted in 2014, is calculated by referring the amount of 549,313 thousand Fund (EAGF). At the same time with the payment of SAPS difference, APIA made the payments afferent to the National Transitory Aids (the former PNDC) in the vegetal sector for which applications were submitted during the Campaign from 2014, the quantum per hectare being regulated under the Government Decision no / for the approval of the quantum of the national transitory aids in the vegetal sector, which is granted for The total amounts paid until now for the National Transition Aids in the vegetal sector Campaign from 2014, lei to the eligible bovine effectives. The payment of the national transitory aids in zootechical sector for bovine breed, for the applications submitted in 2014, shall be made by APIA and its territorial network. are of 444 million Lei (100,491,092 Euro). We remind that from until , APIA has paid the amount of 641 million Euro, representing advance payments afferent to the Scheme of Single Payment per Area (SAPS) Campaign from 2014, to 1,001,417 farmers. Thus, the Agency of Payments and Intervention for Agriculture paid 94% of the total allocation afferent to the direct payments per area, SAPS and ANT, respectively, in the vegetal sector, for

47 Introduction of the NRDN Members Institute of Research and Development for Ovine and Caprinae Breeding from Palas, Constanța County The Institute of Research and Development for Ovine and Caprinae Breeding (ICDCOC) from Palas, Constanța County, is subordinated to Gheorghe Ionescu Șișești Academy of Agricultural and Forest Sciences ICDCOC Palas coordinates, at national level, the activity of research in the field of ovine and caprinae breeding, collaborating with area research centres: SCDCOC Popăuți Botoșani, SCD- COC Reghin Mureș, SCDCOC Caransebes Caraș Severin, SCDCOC Bacău, SCDCOC Bilciurești Dâmbovița și SCDCOC Rușețu Buzău. one another through the objectives and achievements of the research and production activity. Between 1897 and 1919, the study of amelioration of Țigaie and Spanca sheep was initiated together with the study of acclimatisation of breeds and half-breeds obtained by interbreeding the autochthonous breeds with imported breeds: Precocious Merinos, Southdown, Oxford and Shrophire. The main field of activity is the improvement of morphoproductive performances of autochthonous ovine and caprinae breeds. History of ICDCOC Palas The Institute of Research and Development for Ovine and Caprinae Breed-ing from Palas, Constanța County, is the oldest centre of zootechnical re-search from Romania. In 1897, under the Decision no of October 7th, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and Domains, the first Systematic sheepfold from our country is established Oieria Nationala from Palas. Upon establishment, Oieria Palas administrated ha from the public domain, this area being completely dedicated to the re-search in the field of sheep breeding. From 1897, this institution has never changed its scope of activity. In over 100 years since the establishment of ICDCOC Palas, several periods succeeded distinguishing from Between 1925 and 1945, the breed Merinos de Palas was obtain by interbreeding the existent sheep with the rams from Merinos Rambouillet and Semi-precocious German Merinos (from Leutewitz breeding farm from Germany), followed by reproductive isolation and selection in order to increase wool production. Between 1946 and 1961, is the period in which Oieria Palas was sub-ordinated to the Institute of Zootechnical Researches, being organised as research centre, being called Experimental Centre from 45

48 Rural Romania No 19 Palas. During this period, Merinos de Palas breed was perfected by infusion interbreeding with Merinos de Stavropol and Caucasian Merinos breeds, followed by reproductive isolation and selection in order to increase the production of wool and meat. Merinos de Palas breed was homologated in Between 1962 and By reorganising the research and production activity, in 1962, the Experimental Centre from Dobrogea is established, whose patrimony includes the Experimental Centre from Palas, Agricultural Research Centre from Valul lui Traian and Viticultural Research Centre from Murfatlar. The main task of the new research unit was to disseminate in production the obtained results and to provide technical consultancy to the agricultural production units from Dobrogea. Between 1970 and As of April 7th, 1970, a new reorganisation has taken place, establishing the Central Centre of Researches for Ovine Breeding from Palas subordinated to the Academy of Agricultural and Forest Sciences from Bucharest, its scope being the coordination and development of researches with regard to ovine breed for the entire country. The scientific research activity was carried out at the Centre from Palas and also in zootechnical research centres from Rușețu - Buzău County, Popăuți - Botoșani County, Moroieni Dâmbovița County. Bonțida Cluj County, Sighet Maramureș County and SCA Lovrin Timiș County. Between 1981 and In 1981, under the Decree of the State Council no. 170, the Institute of Research and Production for Ovine and Caprinae Breeding was established at Palas, Constanța County, having eight centres subordinated, namely: SCPCO Popăuți Botoșani County; SCPCO Secuieni Bacău County; SCPCO Rușețu Buzău County; SCPCO Bilciurești Dâmbovița County; SCPCOC Reghin Mureș County; SCPCOC Cristian Sibiu County; SCPCO Carei - Satu- Mare County and SCPCOC Caransebeș - Caraș-Severin County. During this period, laboratories of research in the field of ovine and caprinae breeding were created in the agricultural research centres from Oradea, Turda, Jucu, Târgu Jiu and Bovine Centre from Sighetu Marmației. At the end of 1989, ICPCOC from Palas administrated 1563 hectares, of which 1422 arable hectares and ovine and caprinae effective of ani-mals. After 1990, the institute lost half of the material base as a result of the establishment of SC Ovis Palas SA under the Government Decision no. 273/1991. By applying the provisions of the Law no. 18/1991 and of the pat-rimony division protocol concluded with S.C. Ovis Palas S.A., the institute lost 858 ha of land, of which 800 arable hectares. 46

49 Outstanding achievements in the scientific research activity Merinos de Palas breed was created within the institute, being homologated as breed in It can be considered the most perfected sheep breed from Romania, being internationally competitive with Merinos breeds. The average production of fine wool in rams is of kg, and in sheep 5-7 kg. Daily average fattening growth: grams, and the average body weight until 6 month old: kg. The total milk production per sheep is litres (sold milk litres). For tens of years, the institute has been providing reproducers for the improvement of the effectives of ovine from the plain area of the country. Currently, because of the change in ovine breeding and exploitation directions towards meat and milk productions, the effectives of Merinos breed have diminished, existing in genetic patrimony of ICDCOC Palas in a nucleus of 500 animals, being on the top of the improvement pyramid, for which a genetic preservation program was developed. Țigaie de Rușețu breed was created at SCPCO Rușețu, Buzău County, between 1962 and 1985, by interbreeding Țigaie sheep with Corrietale and Romney Marsh rams, followed by reproductive isolation and selection in order to increase semi-fine wool and meat production. It was homologated as breed in Țigaie de Rușețu breed was used to improve wool, meat and milk productions in Țigaie ovine effectives bred in the area of influence of the centre. Karakul de Botoșani breed was created at SCPCO Popăuți, Botoșani County, between 1948 and 1988, by interbreeding Black Țurcană breed with Light Grey Țurcană breed with imported (Germany and Urss) Black Karakul and Light Gray Karakul rams. It was homologated as breed in In parallel with the improvement of the classical colour lines (black and light grey), new coloured lines grey, pink, brown and white were created. The breed is competitive at international level. After 1989, the scientific research in the field of ovine and caprinae breeding was oriented towards solving priority directions in the field of generic improvement of the two species, and in the field of perfecting breeding, reproduction, feeding and exploitation technologies for Romania to ensure a sustainable development which to allow the provisions, on the community market, of good quality and hygienic specific products, in accordance with the European norms. Within the last 20 years, the research activity of the institute has materialized in 100 research projects, which, after completion, resulted in 91 applicative technical solutions and recommendations, representing new biological creations, optimized technologies and modern methods for the increase of ovine and caprinae productions, which were proposed as offer for the transfer in production. ICDCOC Palas Constanța County published the results obtained based on the research projects in books and brochures. In 2012, the institute homologated Palas Meat Breed, comparable with the most famous meat breeds in the world, having the advantage of being well adapted to the environment conditions from Romania. Palas Meat Breed was obtained by interbreeding the Île de France and Palas Merinos ovine breeds, followed by reproductive isolation for several generations and selection in order to increase and improve meat production. The rams of this breed are very sought by the ovine breeders from the entire country, the demand being greater than the supply. By using the rams from Palas Meat Breed for covering, hybrid meat lambs are obtained, with fast growing speed and low consumption of fodders as compared to autochthonous breeds (Merinos, Țigaie, Țurcană). In a holding with 3000 Merinos sheep, which used for covering Palas Meat rams, an income from the valorisation of productions (fattened hybrid meat lambs, wool, milk) in total amount of 1,798,000 Lei as compared to a total expense volume of 1,726,000 Lei, resulting a profit per holding of 72,000 Lei. The profit rate was of 4.2%, and the average profit per sheep was of 24 Lei. 47

50 Rural Romania No 19 In another holding with Merinos sheep of the same size, which used Merinos rams, ovine breeding and exploitation activity finalized with loss, the loss being greater in the case where Merinos lambs were delivered immediately after weaning. Thus, by delivering the lambs weaned on Easter, the total loss per holding was of 297,891 lei, with an annual average loss per sheep of 99 Lei. In case Merinos lambs were not delivered immediately after weaning, being fattened until 150 days old and afterwards delivered alive, the total loss diminished to 120,459 Lei, with an average loss per sheep of approximately 40 Lei. Palas Milk breed was obtained at ICDCOC Palas Constanța County by interbreeding Friza breed (from Germany), Awassi breed (from Israel) and Palas Merinos, followed by reproductive isolation and selection in order to increase milk production. The breed was homologated in Palas Milk breed is competitive with the best milk breeds in the world, the advantage being that it is well adapted to breeding and exploitation conditions from Romania (no imported milk breed, Ostfriza and Lacaume, adapted to the environment conditions. By using in ovine breeding farms Palas Milk breed rams, hybrid milk sheep are obtained, which, with regard to the productivity, they are superior to the local ovine breeds. By using Palas Milk breed rams for covering in Merinos ovine holdings, hybrid milk sheep is obtained, being well adapted to the exploitation conditions from the breeding area. Main morpho-productive parameters and reproduction indexes: - total milk production de litres/sheep; - quantity of milked (sold) milk litres/sheep as compared to 30 litres of sold milk in the case of autochthonous breeds; - birth rate - 110%; - weaned lambs from 100 sheep (in stock) 100 lambs According to the calculation, a holding which breeds 1,000 hybrid milk sheep and delivers the obtained lambs on Easter, loses approximately 30,000 Lei, an average of 30 lei per sheep. In order to obtain profit, the lambs obtained from hybrid milk sheep must be fattened until 150 days old and delivered weighting kg, in this case, obtaining a profit of 43 Lei/sheep at a profit rate of 5.5%. Palas Prolific Breed is in the process of homologation. The new breed was created at ICDCOC Palas by complex interbreeding using Romanov, Ostfriza, Finnish Landrace and Palas Merinos. It is unique in Romania and meets the conditions in order to be homologated as a new creation of the institute. Characteristics of Palas Prolific Breed: prolificacy %; weaned lambs from 100 sheep ; long reproduction season (whole year, with anestria in February); production of milk for sale litres/milked sheep. Palas Prolific Breed can be used for meat lamb reproduction by interbreeding with local ovine breeds. We list below other outstanding achievements of the Institute of Research and Development for Ovine and Caprinae Breeding from Palas Constanța County. Creation of meat hybrids in ovine breed: - Suffolk x Palas Merinos increase of production with 20-25%; - Texel x Palas Merinos - increase of production with 25-30%. Creation of meat hybrids in caprinae breed: - Boer x Carpatina Breed the hybrid lambs fattened in intensive system determine 30% growth increase as compared to Carpatina Breed, shortening the fattening period with 40 days, this implying 15-20% fodder saving and also obtaining quality meat. 48

51 Creation of milk hybrids in caprinae breed: - Saanen x Carpatina hybrid goats determine a total milk production with 28-30% more as compared to Carpatina Breed. Main achievements in the field of breeding and exploitation technologies Optimized technologies for ovine reproduction (optimizing the interval between lambings; establishing various covering systems, seminal material freezing, estrum induction and synchronization methods in ovine); Optimized technologies for feeding reproduction sheep and fattening the young ovine in semi-intensive and intensive system (optimizing rations and the energy/protein ratio, establishing the most efficient form of administration of concentrated fodders, superior use of coarse forages, use of urea as protein replacement, methods of fodder preparation and administration); Intensive technologies for ovine breeding and exploitation in great capacity farms; Technology for breeding and fattening the young ovine in industrial centres; Technology for breeding and fattening the young ovine for wool and meat; Technology for breeding the young ovine for reproduction; Technology of breeding and exploitation of reproduction ovine in permanent isolation; Technology for precocious weaning and artificial breeding of the young ovine from hours after lambing; Technology of maintaining ovine on natural improved pastures and cultivated meadows; Technology for reformed adult ovine reconditioning; Execution of installations and equipment for mechanisation of service works in ovine farms (automatic watering places, ovine washing and disinfection equipment, equipment for mechanised waste disposal); Technology for specialized reproduction ovine breeding and exploitation for meat and milk production; Technology for lamb fattening in intensive and semi-intensive system; Technology for the establishment of meadows in differed pedoclimatic areas and for exploiting them with ovine; Testing new feeding norms for ovine and caprinae established in the new ruminant feeding system, as compared to those used in many European countries, and preparation of optimized rations for different productions; Establishment of digestible value of the fodders used to feed ovine, and methods and procedures for the improvement of their nutritional value; Experimenting biotechnologies for intensification and guidance of reproduction transfer of embryos; freezing ram and he-goat seminal material and embryos; gestation diagnosis with the help of ultrasound technique; methods to induce and synchronize oestrum in sheep and goats; efficient methods for artificial insemination of sheep and goats with sperm preserved in various forms; Experimenting equipment for milking, wool-cutting, fodder and water administration mechanisation in ovine and caprinae holdings and their assimilation in mass production; Drawing-up draft projects with technological and constructive solutions for sheep farms of mother sheep and for small ram fattening farms of animals; Application of parasite infestation prevention and control in the case of ovine, caprinae and pastures. 49

52 Rural Romania No 19 Fruit-Growing Research and Development Centre from Iași Under the Law no. 45/2009, the Fruit-Growing Research and Development Centre from Iași (SCDP Iași) is a research and development unit with legal character hierarchically subordinated to Gheorghe Ionescu Șișești Agricultural and Forest Science Academy. Currently, SCDP Iași owns a total area of hectares with apple, cherry, sour cherry, plum, apricot and pear species. The specialists of the unit prepare technical and economic documentations for the establishment and maintenance of tree holdings for the area of influence of SCDP Iași, at the same time providing specialty consultancy. The Fruit-Growing Research and Development Centre from Iași was estab-lished in 1977 as a result of detaching from the Fruit-Growing Laboratory, which have been operating between 1957 and 1977 within the Fruit-Growing and Wine-Growing Research Centre from Iași. The Fruit-Growing Research and Development Centre from Iași is the new denomination as of January 1st, Under Law no. 45/2009, the Fruit- Growing Research and Development Centre from Iași is a research and development unit with legal character, hierarchically subordinated to Gheorghe Ionescu Șișești Agricultural and Forest Science Academy. The activity is carried out in the research and de-velopment sector and in specialized compartments: accounting, mechanisa-tion, supply and administration. The registered office of the Fruit- Growing Research and Development Cen-tre from Iași is in the north-east side of Iași, in Miroslava Commune, which is nearby Iași, on Voinesti Avenue, which makes the connection between Galata and Miroslava districts. As fruit-growing region, the area is part of the 8th Region, Moldavian Plateau. In the total area of ha currently owned by the centre, the fruit tree plantations have different shares: the apple tree occupies 60%, the cherry tree 15%, the sour cherry tree 10%, the plum tree 9%, the apricot tree 3% and the pear tree 3%. Research The research activity of ICDP Iași is carried out in six laboratories 1. Laboratory of Genetics and Improvement research themes: - Collection and preservation of the germoplasm stock in cherry, sour cherry, peach and nut varieties. - Creation of cherry, sour cherry, peach and nut varieties with genetic resistance to pathogens and pests, high level of productivity, low vigour and quality fruits with 50

53 Until now, 31 varieties of different fruit-tree species were obtained at SCDP Iași. The cherry varieties were obtained by artificial crossings or clonal selection. 24 varieties were obtained for the cherry species: Cetățuia, Cătălina, Bucium, Maria, Tereza, Iașirom, Lucia, Iosif, Amar Maxuț, Amar Galata, Ștefan, Golia, Marina, Radu, Oana, Ludovic 1, Cociu 1, Andrei 1, Anda 1, Alex 1, Mihai 1, Paul 1, Margo 1, George. The sour cherry varieties were obtained by positive selections from local populations: Pitic, De Botoșani, Timpuriu de Osoi. New varieties were obtained for the nut species by positive selection from the local populations: Miroslava, Anica, Velnița, Ovidiu different maturation periods, - Establishment of the fruit tree assortments depending on the areas of maximum favourability for the following species: apple, pear, apricot, plum, cherry, sour cherry and nut. 2. Laboratory of Fruit-Tree Technologies research themes: - Study of substantiating the growth and fruit-making processes for differentiated application of tree cuts and optimisation of fruit load by treatments with bioactive substances. - Development of culture systems in fruit-tree species in order to increase fruit production. 3. Laboratory for Plant Protection research themes: - Development of phytosanitary protection technologies for the main fruit-tree species by using the latest and most efficient pesticides, including the biological ones. - Obtaining fruit-tree seeds free from any virus and of high biological value. 4. Dendrology Laboratory research themes: - Improvement of the assortment of ornamental and dendrological plants for green spaces by acclimatization and perfecting their multiplication technologies. - Introduction in the culture and dendrological fit-out projects of acclimatized and naturalized species in order to execute the country reconstruction programme. 5. Laboratory for Production of Fruit-Tree Seeds research themes: - Improvement of technology for obtaining grafted trees. - Evaluation of the main characteristics, compatibility with new varieties and adaptation to the area climatic conditions of fruittree species rootstocks. - Selection of biotypes from spontaneous flora in order to use them as rootstocks. 6. Laboratory of Mechanisation research themes: - Improvement of the equipment used for working the soil in intensive fruit-tree plantations. - New techniques regarding the execution of mechanized works in fruit-tree culture. Development The Development Compartment includes seven Research-Development Bases for Fruit-Growing, of which one Storehouse for fruits. Research and Development Base from Velnița Zanoschi; Research and Development Base from Mădărjești; Research and Development Base from Pepiniera Sârca; Through the Nursery from Sârca, SCDP Iași annually sells over 100,000 pieces from all fruit-tree species: apple, pear, quince, apricot, cherry, sour cherry, plum, peach, and, as novelty, nut tree grafted from own varieties through the Nursery from Sârca. The produced material is part of superior biological categories, namely: basic category and certificate category. Research and Development Base from Sarca; Research and Development Base from Miroslava; Research and Development Base from Liliac; Research and Development Base, Fruit Storehouse from Sarca, with a capacity of 5,500 tons The technological development bases superiorly valorise the results of the scientific research by applying the latest technological research links within fruit-tree plantations. The specialists from the unit draft technical and economic documentations for the establishment and maintenance of the fruit-tree holdings for the area of influence of SCDP Iași, at the same time providing specialty consultancy. 51

54 52 Rural Romania No 19

55 We invite you to participate to the editing of a magazine Do you want to share your experience of rural development for a possible publication in the magazine? Participation guide These information are only indicative for the homogeneity of contributions. The authors understand that editorial staff can modify the received text for a better understanding. Author: Has to be identified with name, surname and current occupation. Introduction: A short introduction should be included, in which to emphasise the relevance of the chosen topic. Length of the article: words Correct information: Only offer information that you are 100% sure of and that you can prove. Mention the source of information, when you describe data coming from other institutions or organisations. Style: As it is a magazine article, the text should not have the aspect of a report. Therefore, it is suggested:»» To have clear phrasing.»» To offer relevant information to support the main idea of the article, and not all the details of the project.»» To avoid an excess of acronyms.»» The full title, followed by the acronym, has to be inserted when it appears in the text for the first time.»» To avoid external comments and references that may be controversial or misunderstood. Photos and images The images have to illustrate an experience. The images will be sent as separate electronic files (high resolution >300 dpi and >850KB). All files that contain images will be sent in.jpeg format. Please include a short title for each photo/image you send, as well as the name of the photographer/author. Letters to the editor The letters have to be related to a rural development subject and they should not exceed 200 words. Editors can modify the text, in order to adapt it to the style, length, clarity and accuracy necessary and they do not guarantee that all letters will be published. When there is not enough space, the letters that are not published in the magazine may be published on the NRDN website. We invite you to send your experiences, photos, letters and articles at the address: publicatii@rndr.ro

56 OPEN TO THE FUTURE ROOTS OF A EUROPEAN COUNTRY CONTACT: National Office of the Support Unit of the Network (NSU) Nicolae Filipescu St., 6th floor, 2nd district, postal code Tel.: , Fax.: info@rndr.ro, Internet: This publication was produced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Romania, as part of the project Founding and Supporting the National Rural Development Network. Project co-funded under the EAFRD through Measure 511 of the National Rural Development Programme February, 2015 The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. Free distribution.