Development of honey production in Lebanon contributes to food security

The Lebanese Congress for beekeeping held yesterday a Mediterranean conference under the heading ‘Development Strategies for Beekeeping in Lebanon and the Mediterranean region’ in cooperation with the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut and under the patronage of Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb. Speaking at the event, Chehayeb pointed out that “Lebanon produces nearly 3676 tons of honey in a sector which occupies nearly 6 thousand beekeepers responsible for some 228 thousand beehives”. He called on workers in the field to rally around their syndicate to ensure continuous growth and boom of the industry. Chehayeb warned against three main threats affecting the industry in Lebanon: first, pollution caused mainly by poisonous pesticides, secondly, the Chrysomphalus aonidum and other honey bee diseases which have been largely eradicated through the provision of the proper pest control drugs, and thirdly, the waning of arable farmlands invaded by urban life. Words delivered during the conference stressed the need to develop the beekeeping sector in the Mediterranean countries, since most of crops are associated with it, and subsequently is a key element for food security. 

(Source: Al Diyar, As Safir, May 6, 2015)