🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Moroccan beekeeping sector adapts to climate shock amid severe drought and declining bee colonies
via Le Matin3 min read
Morocco's beekeeping sector faces significant pressure in 2024 and 2025 due to drought, weakened bee colonies, and insufficient production. The crisis, which began in 2022 and continued into 2023, highlights the vulnerability of an activity crucial for agricultural and ecological balance. Honey production plummeted by nearly 70% in 2022 compared to 2021, reaching a historic low that persisted in 2023. This decline is attributed to prolonged water stress affecting melliferous resources and flowering cycles, leading to bee malnutrition, colony weakening, and increased mortality. An ONSSA survey in 2022-2023 reported approximately 36% of deserted hives, with significant losses continuing in several regions. In response, professionals are implementing adaptation strategies, including increased apicultural transhumance to compensate for scarce resources and supplementary feeding to sustain colonies during shortages. Initiatives are also underway to enhance bee resilience through selecting more resistant strains, improving health management, and diversifying melliferous resources. Although not a dedicated sector in the Génération Green strategy, beekeeping aligns with its sustainable development goals, natural resource preservation, and support for small farmers. With nearly 36,000 beekeepers relying on this activity, the issue extends beyond honey production, impacting food security and ecosystem preservation through its vital role in pollinating natural and cultivated plants. The
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
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