Pshdar beekeepers see honey production plunge as climate change, diseases hit hard

SULAYMANIYAH – This year’s honey harvest in Pshdar, part of the Raparin Independent Administration within Sulaymaniyah Governorate, has seen a significant drop, with production falling to less than half of previous years, according to local beekeepers.

The transition from summer to fall is usually a time for honey collection, but beekeepers are reporting an exceptionally poor season, with many unable to even cover the costs of maintaining their hives.

Omar Hussein, a beekeeper from the foothills of the Qandil Mountains, shared his difficulties: “This year has been terrible for our bees. In previous years, I would collect around 200 kilograms of honey from my hives. This year, I barely managed 30 kilograms. We haven’t been able to recoup our costs, and we’ve suffered losses.”

Hussein explained that the blooming season, a crucial time when bees forage for nectar, was disrupted by unexpected rainfall. “When the flowers bloomed, the rain washed away the nectar they needed. As a result, our bees couldn’t produce the honey we rely on. In those areas where it rained, the beekeepers have all faced the same issue.”

Kurdish honey, which has shown promise on the global market, has faced a steep decline in production over the last two years. Climate change and the spread of diseases have been the primary causes of this downturn, with honey yields falling by nearly 80% in 2024. In 2023, production sharply dropped to 664,009 kilograms, down from 1,600,824 kilograms in 2022—a decrease of almost 59%. Beekeepers in Sinjar have also suffered from similar conditions.

Hussein, who owns 72 hives, noted that some of his bees didn’t produce any honey at all this year. “Some bees only produced enough to sustain themselves, while others didn’t make any honey. We’ve had to feed them sugar to survive; otherwise, they would have starved. Not only did honey production drop, but we also lost some bees to disease.”

Reflecting on the challenging circumstances, Hussein added, “Two years ago, I had 146 hives, but now I’m down to 72. The bees are dying from diseases and just can’t recover. The government hasn’t provided the necessary support, whether in terms of medicine or solutions to control the diseases, making our work even harder.”

Beekeepers in Pshdar are now urging local authorities to provide more support to help tackle these challenges, including environmental factors and bee diseases, in an effort to protect their remaining hives and sustain their livelihoods.