In Lebanon 6000 households make a living from beekeeping

The Minister of Agriculture Akram Chehayeb stressed in a press conference he held yesterday the need to protect the beekeeping sector which is vital to maintaining the agricultural sector in Lebanon, boasting the international standards of the locally produced honey and the resulting high proceeds from its export to European countries. “Beekeeping and honey production is a promising industry which provides a source of livelihood to some 6000 families, while thousands of other households rely on it for extra income,” Chehayeb said. For his part, Afif Abi Chedid, member of the Higher Committee for Beekeeping Sector in Lebanon, categorically denied what is been said about the toxicity of the pesticide used to protect bees against the varroa mites. “This is very serious and harmful to the reputation of the local honey which is tested at internationally accredited laboratories,” he said, pointing to the latest award it claimed in Ukraine where Lebanon came seven. (October 6, 2015)