Region gives green light for payment of 1.5 million in aid for beekeepers damaged by drought

Payment of contributions to Sicilian beekeepers to partially compensate them for the damage suffered as a result of the reduction in honey production last year, following the devastating drought that hit southern Italy and Sicily in particular in 2024. The offices of the Regional Department of Agriculture admitted 372 applications for subsidies, following a preliminary examination of the applications submitted by producers, in favour of the same number of beekeepers who provided proof of the requirements for access to the funds. These included proof of enrolment in the national bee register.

The contribution should be disbursed in these days, after the allocation of the total ceiling of 1.5 million euro based on the number of hives that suffered the production collapse due to the drought 2024. Initially published in December 2024, the call for proposals had a budget of EUR 784,000, which was later supplemented with an additional allocation of EUR 716,000 when the budget was adjusted.