Honey production to drop by 40% with losses hitting the number of bees and income of beekeepers

As Safir newspaper published last week a report on the beekeeping sector in Lebanon, which is presently facing major challenges that will be difficult to overcome as it estimated losses of beekeepers between 30 to 40% of total production.  The newspaper added that these losses will not affect this season only but will extend, according to the beekeepers, to the next summer season with the areas of Aley and Metn expected to be particularly affected by the decline in production.
The report also noted that the sustainability of the beekeeping sector is directly depended on the citrus season which largely determines the size and quality of honey production.  The low rainfall this year caused an unprecedented decline in the number of bee workers per beehive, and forced citrus growers to use pesticides during this season to combat the dangerous insects that might jeopardize the production. These unfavorable circumstances are likely to affect the income of hundreds of families which will cause a major social and economic disaster.  The report relayed the demands of beekeepers that the state and its institutions financially mitigate the impact of this crisis.
Source: Al-Safir 4 March 2014