Daraa – Mahjoub al-Hashish
The current honey season in Daraa governorate, southern Syria, has seen a decline in both production and quality.
Drought resulting from a lack of rainfall during the past winter led to the absence of blooming flowers, causing a shortage in bee pastures.
Following the production drop, honey prices surged amid local fears that pure honey is no longer available, as many beekeepers resorted to feeding their bees sugar.
Production Decline
Ahmad al-Samouri, who owns 50 beehives in the Yarmouk Basin, told Enab Baladi that production was weak following the spring harvest this season.
Production from one hive did not exceed six kilograms, while in previous seasons, it used to exceed 15 kilograms.
Ahmad attributed the production drop to the scarcity of flowers in the pastures, as there was not enough rain to allow for blooming—flowers being the main source of nectar, the natural raw material for honey.
He said he moved his hives to other Syrian provinces, but the drought was widespread across Syria.
Mohammed al-Ammar, a beekeeper who owns 100 hives and is the deputy head of the Specialized Beekeeping Association in the cities of Nawa and Izraa, estimated a 30% drop in production compared to past seasons.
Al-Ammar told Enab Baladi that climate conditions greatly impacted honey productivity and bee reproduction.
He added that this season was the harshest for bees, as the area did not witness the blooming of flowers or even thorns, and even wild trees were far from ideal in flowering.
Al-Ammar noted that the drought didn’t just impact honey but affected bee colonies more severely, as swarming—the process through which new hives are formed—did not occur.
The Daraa Agriculture Directorate estimated the number of beehives in the governorate at approximately 45,000 hives.
Beekeeping is common in the Yarmouk Basin area in western Daraa countryside due to its proximity to the Yarmouk Valley and the abundance of beekeepers in the region.
Barriers to Beekeeping
Several challenges have driven beekeepers to sell part of their hives, and some have even abandoned the profession, according to Mohammed al-Ammar.
One of the main challenges is the high cost of relocating hives, particularly the cost of vehicles, which is linked to fuel prices.
The price of one liter of diesel has reached 9,000 Syrian pounds (approximately $0.90), and gasoline is priced at 12,000 Syrian pounds (approximately $1.20).
One US dollar currently equals around 10,000 Syrian pounds, based on the prevailing exchange rate in the Syrian market.
Beekeepers often need to move their hives across multiple regions. For example, within Daraa governorate, hives are moved between warmer areas like the Yarmouk Valley in winter and pastures of eucalyptus and stone fruits in spring.
Beekeepers also move their hives to the Syrian coast during citrus bloom season, to Damascus suburbs during anise and black cumin seasons, and to northeastern Syria during the cotton bloom.
Ahmad al-Samouri said he moved his hives to Homs governorate in central Syria in May, and later to Quneitra governorate in the south.
Each relocation costs at least 2 million Syrian pounds (approximately $200).
Al-Ammar stated that the challenges don’t stop at transport costs. Theft is another issue, pushing beekeepers to hire guards, which adds further expenses.
Security concerns also remain an obstacle for beekeepers, especially in northeastern Syria, discouraging them from relocating their hives to these areas.
He pointed out that the price of wooden hives has risen to 350,000 Syrian pounds (around $35), and that medicine costs are also high, with some treatments missing entirely.
Al-Ammar added that he could not find a device to test acidity levels in Syria or even in Lebanon. Additionally, some medications, when available, are sold at steep prices.
Low-Quality Honey
Al-Ammar noted that honey quality has declined due to the reliance on sugar solutions to feed bees and prevent colony losses.
He distinguished between beekeepers who feed their bees to keep them alive and those who adulterate honey by cooking it with viscous substances, adding flavorings, and selling it as if it were natural hive-produced honey.
Honey prices have increased in Daraa’s local markets, with the price per kilogram reaching 250,000 Syrian pounds, up from 150,000 Syrian pounds last year.
Earlier this year, beekeepers in the Yarmouk Basin of western Daraa countryside suffered losses after the Israeli army, which had advanced into the area, prevented them from accessing their hives, according to beekeeper testimonies to Enab Baladi.
Beekeeping in Daraa, Syria Falters: A Season Without Swarming, Sugar Replaces Nectar Enab Baladi.
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