Bee population in Duhok facing decline threat. Photo: 964media
'Pesticides a major cause'
Duhok faces mounting threat to bee populations
DUHOK — The beekeeping community in Duhok is confronting a growing threat to bee populations, leading to calls for action from relevant authorities. Data from the Directorate General of Agriculture in Duhok shows the governorate has 3,213 beekeepers with an annual honey production of 127,077 kilograms.
Avin Salim, an agricultural engineer in Duhok, shared with 964media that a significant number of beekeepers have recently sought advice on addressing the declining health of their bees. “I have examined numerous hives and identified pesticides on flowers as a primary cause of bee mortality upon contact with pollen,” Salim said.
Additionally, Salim pointed out the broader environmental dangers, such as the adverse effects of smoke from generators, posing a substantial risk to the bee population and potentially impacting the agricultural sector adversely in the future.
In response to these concerns, 964media reached out to Ahmad Jamil, the Director General of Agriculture in Duhok. Jamil confirmed that “investigations into the diseases and the decline in bee populations have started, though the main cause remains unidentified.”
Jamil further explained that the majority of bee losses this season could be attributed to disease, climate change, and improper honey storage in the hives.