Beekeepers feel sting in northern Syria
Beekeeping in northwest Syria, which was once a traditional industry, faces challenges due to the war and its repercussions amid a lack of support.
The Syrian war has had a clear impact on the beekeeping sector along with its honey production and trade in northwestern Syria, as beekeepers have lost important pastures and vital projects over the years.
With the relative calm prevailing in the area recently, beekeepers in the Aleppo countryside — which is under control of the Syrian opposition — now hope to compensate for their losses.
Although the opposition-controlled countryside of Idlib and Aleppo, namely Afrin, is rich in flowers and nectar and the climatic conditions are suitable for beekeeping and honey production, beekeepers still face challenges.
Ahmed al-Ahmed, an agricultural engineer and beekeeper in the Aleppo countryside, told Al-Monitor, “There are common diseases that affect beehives, such as American and European foulbrood, and Nosema — which is one of the most dangerous.”
