Govt initiative raises honey production many folds

Doha: The initiative of the Ministry of Municipality has succeeded in increasing local honey production in many folds from 2.5 tonnes in 2013 to 16.2 tonnes in 2021.

The initiative ‘National Honeybee Project’ was launched by the Agricultural Affairs Department of the Ministry in 2012 to protect bees and other pollinators and to support local apiaries for increasing honey production.

This came in a report issued by the Ministry demonstrating achievements of the Department in protecting bees and promoting beekeeping in the country on the occasion of World Bee Day 2022 which falls on May 20.

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated May 20 as World Bee Day.

The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.

Under National Honeybee Project, the Ministry distributed 1,729 beehives to local apiaries. The beekeeping farms also received four grants to encourage them to increase honey production to ensure self-sufficiency of the country. As many as 171 local beekeeping farms benefitted from the initiative of the Ministry.

The Ministry of Municipality and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change have joined the world to mark World Bee Day 2022 showing their determination to protect bees and other pollinators.

The idea behind running the initiative ‘National Honeybee Project’ is to provide beehives and other necessary gears to local apiaries which are producing honey for commercial purpose. The Ministry also provided training on latest techniques of bee-farming to to apiaries and special boxes to market their products in better way. 

There are three types of honey in Qatar – Sidr, Samur and Al Rabi according to the seasonal flowers and Sidr honey is being produced in large quantity in Qatar and has the highest demand. 

Qatar has two honey harvesting seasons. Sidr honey is harvested in November and Al Rabi and Al Samur honey is harvested in May.

World Bee Day is observed to draw attention to the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy.

The day provides an opportunity for governments, organisations, civil society and activists everywhere to promote actions that will protect and enhance pollinators and their habitats, improve their abundance and diversity, and support the sustainable development of beekeeping.

 440 total views