Oman Marks World Bee Day with Support for Beekeeping Sector

Oman Promotes Sustainable Beekeeping on World Bee Day

Muscat:  The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources, joins countries around the world in marking World Bee Day, observed annually on 20 May, to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their role in sustainable development.

The ministry continues to implement several programmes aimed at developing and improving beekeeping in the Sultanate of Oman, including the Omani honeybee breed dissemination programme, which seeks to expand the spread of the local breed due to its adaptability to environmental conditions and the calm nature of its colonies.

Under the programme, beneficiaries receive support through the provision of two hives, with the ministry covering 50 percent of the cost, while beneficiaries contribute the remaining amount. Social security beneficiaries receive support covering 75 percent of the hive value.

The ministry also implements a programme for the production and distribution of improved virgin queen bees, aimed at increasing the number of honeybee colonies through the distribution of selected queens from pure Omani strains free of charge to breeders.

In addition, the honey quality improvement programme focuses on raising production standards through the distribution of electric and manual honey extractors and honey ripening equipment, with financial support ranging between 50 and 75 percent depending on the beneficiary category.

The ministry’s disease and pest control programmes target threats affecting honeybee colonies, including the Varroa mite and Asian hornet. Traps for Asian hornets have been distributed free of charge to beekeepers.

The ministry also continues to organize training workshops and courses for beekeepers, students and researchers to enhance skills related to beekeeping and honey production.

As part of efforts to promote Omani honey, the ministry organizes the annual Omani Honey Market, which aims to introduce local honey products and provide marketing opportunities for producers and small and medium enterprises.

The ministry affirmed that Omani honey is known for its quality and nutritional value, benefiting from the Sultanate of Oman’s diverse natural environment of mountains, plains and deserts.

The ministry noted that pollinators such as bees play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting food crop production, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

It added that pesticides, invasive insects, land-use changes and monoculture farming practices remain among the main challenges threatening bee populations worldwide.

Statistics indicate that there are between 20,000 and 30,000 bee species globally, while pollinators contribute to the production of around 35 percent of global agricultural crops.