Cold and rainy weather in spring and summer this year had a negative impact on beekeeping. So, because of the rainy weather, the bees collected nectar late. Although the honey extraction season has started, many of the beekeepers have not yet started this process.
Even, some are of the opinion that they will not be able to take honey from bees this year. Beekeepers are worried. If the normal harvest cannot be taken, there may be a shortage. How will this affect honey grades?
Productivity is up to 40 percent of last year
Elvin Bayramli, a member of the Board of the Azerbaijan Beekeepers Association, says that the situation in beekeeping this year is not encouraging: “We are already coming to the end of the beekeeping season. Spring and summer weather has been abnormal. The weather was not only rainy. Also, the nights were cold, windy and dry. This has led to a tragic situation for beekeepers. Some bee colonies are unable to feed and starve to death. In statistics, they say total numbers. This year, 40 percent of last year’s honey harvest was collected. In fact, the points collected are less than these numbers.”
It’s not a prediction, it’s a reality
According to E. Bayramli, it is not expected that there will be a harvest after that: “Our beekeepers did not even think that it could be such a bad year. It is already the end of the season. In the lower regions, honey can hardly be found anymore. Already, 1-2 honey plants are left. Nothing has happened in the Kalbajar, Lachin zone so far, even if it happens after that, it can be collected very little. And it will not replace the general harvest. More shortages, bee deaths, and honey shortages are expected this year. This is not a prediction, but a reality. Because the situation in apiaries in all our regions is bad. The reason is not only unstable weather conditions. “Several factors coincided, so this year beekeepers were left empty-handed.”
Losses will be more in the southern zone
The expert stated that the losses of people who do not make ends meet from beekeeping will be more: “Non-professional beekeepers, those with poor financial means and bees will suffer a serious loss. Many of their bees will also perish. In the best case, they will find money and give sugar to their bees so that they can survive at least until March and April next year. Many beekeepers do not know this. Some have no financial means. Some people leave the bee in the wild and do not care about it. In this case, the bees will naturally break. In some of our zones, the number of bees is high. Therefore, the losses will be more especially in the southern zone.
The price of honey will increase by 10 manats
According to E. Bayramli, the latest such situation was observed before the period of independence: “Such a situation has not happened in recent times. Maybe it was much earlier. But such a shortage has not been observed since independence. This is the first time such a bad situation has happened. Even so, it did not massively cover all regions. For example, it was in one zone and not in another. But this year, except for small nuances, no income was obtained from any part of the country.” The expert noted that beekeepers are not happy to raise the price either, but they are forced: “It is likely that the price of honey will rise. But he shouldn’t have gotten up. Because our territories in the Karabakh zone have been liberated, and the fodder base has expanded. Therefore, we would have the opportunity to take more points. Abundant production would prevent honey from rising in price. However, due to low yield this year, the price of honey is expected to increase by 10 manats. The increase in price is also a loss for honey sellers. Because they also have their own customers. How to explain the situation to people? Either bee farms must be destroyed or they must raise the price of honey so that they can survive until May next year.”
When will the situation improve?
Economist Jafar Ibrahimli said that if the weather conditions improve in the following years, the situation may improve: “It cannot be said that the weather was not good for one month and the bees collected less honey, but it will be like this throughout the season. True, due to unstable weather conditions, the yield may be lower than in previous years. However, the situation in the Aran regions is expected to improve in the future. If the weather conditions do not lead to a decrease in the number of bee colonies and deaths for the next period, the situation will improve. Beekeeping is such a field that it is difficult to say “It will be better in a month”. Because there is a certain season when you need to collect the nectar. If they can’t collect it, it stays the next year. Therefore, the situation may improve next year. If productivity is low, it will affect the price. But the last 5-6 years have been very productive.”
According to the economist, the increase in the price of honey will not be related to the shortage: “Inflation is the factor that affects the prices more. That is, the price increase will be at the level of inflation. But the up-and-down price of honey has been the same for years, it doesn’t change much.” (“Kaspi” newspaper)
