New innovations increase the production of honey in Syria

Beekeeping has a long tradition in Syria , providing employment , income and economic security for people in rural areas. It also involves very little capital investment as no complex technologies are needed.  

Sheikh Al-Kar (master of this practice)of beekeepers Abdullah Okdah  from Lattakia  has spent 35 years  in the profession of beekeeping which  he inherited from his father and developed.  He specializesin honey production and the introduction of new types through which he obtained certificates of appreciation and first ranks in the exhibitions in terms of  quality and producing royal food . 

The  beekeeper Okdah , who is  a member of the Arab Beekeepers Union,  told SANA  that he invented an “early”  “Al-Bakuriyya” model hive to protect bees from the weather factors related to high and low temperatures. It contains an insulator and 12 broods and important  in protecting bees from bad weather conditions, as it contributes to doubling production between 3 and 5 times with the speed in the honey production time.

He indicated that  in cooperation with a number of beekeepers he carried out  a number of experiments in the coast  , desert and  mountainous areas and all governorates for a period of two and a half years, adding we reached a drug formula  made of natural plants with the aim of treating bees from some illnesses to increase honey production and improving  its kinds.  

He underscored  that with the aim of supporting the bee sector in Syria and increasing production ,  experiences  were exchanged between  beekeepers and obtained good results and doubled the number of bees and production. Okdah confirmed that he introduced the Sidr tree  because it blooms twice a year and maintains the continuity of honey production and  Sidr honey was produced for the first time in Syria.   

Sheikh Al-Kar Okdeh  called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform  to cultivate large areas with cedar, carob, rosemary, jujube, cemetery and eucalyptus  to establish a reserve in cooperation with Syrian beekeepers  and to place “early” beehives in them to increase production.   

He also called for  hybridization and protecting queen bees to be distributed later to beekeepers which  contributes to improving production, expressing  his willingness to train novice beekeepers to obtain new experiences.  

Rawaa Ghanam