Beekeeping in Dennyeh on the decline amidst official neglect

In its edition of July 30, Al Akhbar daily unmasked the grief of Bayt Faks beekeepers, a town famed for honey production throughout the North and Lebanon. Situated in the caza of Dennyeh, the village of Bayt Faks used to produce not less than 40 tons of honey every year, but has since two years seen a decline by 80% thus threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of local households. For more insight on the subject, Al Akhbar spoke to Hussein Awada, deputy secretary general of the Arab Beekeepers Union, and former president of the Cooperative of Bayt Faks Beekeepers. Awada mentioned a number of factors, notably the following: climate change; human-induced contraction of flower and tree landscapes required for their nectar in attracting pollinating bees; the death of a large number of queen bees in Dennyeh and other areas across the country due to frost storms; use of mostly counterfeit or fake pesticides to control bee diseases; border closure and finally, fall in exports. Awada also noted that the waning production has not positively impacted the price of honey, where it remained unchanged, (USD 20-30). The reason, he said, is mainly because domestic production normally exceeds local consumption needs. Criticizing the government represented by the agriculture ministry, Awada said it repeatedly failed in backing the sector or in compensating beekeepers for accruing losses. Most of Bayt Faks inhabitants, he maintained, depend on beekeeping and therefore on the production and trading in honey or on jobs supported  by the industry. (Al Akhbar, July 30, 2016)