Celebrating World Bee Day: UAE’s Commitment to Sustainable Beekeeping and Native Honeybee Conservation
In celebration of World Bee Day 2024, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing the sustainability of the Emirati beekeeping sector. Through a series of initiatives, ADAFSA supports local beekeepers by providing high-quality queen bees of the Emirati honeybee breed, crucial for increasing the production of premium local honey varieties such as Sidr, Samar, and Ghaf.
This March, ADAFSA successfully bred and produced 2,693 queen bees from the ninth generation of Emirati honeybee queens. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on imported bee colonies and promote the local production of honey. ADAFSA has distributed 2,283 of these queens to local beekeepers, aiming for a total production of 5,300 queens by the end of 2024.
Since 2016, ADAFSA has produced over 13,000 queen bees from eight generations, with 10,703 distributed to beekeepers across the UAE. This initiative not only boosts local honey production but also strengthens the resilience of the Emirati honeybee species.
To further promote local honey, ADAFSA organized the Al Wathba Honey Festival from January 26 to February 8, 2024, in Abu Dhabi. The festival, held alongside the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, attracted 60 beekeepers and honey production companies. It featured honey competitions, scientific workshops, and seminars on best practices in beekeeping.
ADAFSA’s commitment extends to education and awareness. The authority published a comprehensive book titled "Bees and Beekeeping in the United Arab Emirates," the first of its kind in the UAE. This book covers the diversity, importance, and conservation of bees, including sustainable beekeeping practices and the unique challenges faced by honeybees in the UAE’s hot and arid environment.
In addition, ADAFSA released a booklet for children to educate them about beekeeping and the process of honey production. A brochure was also issued to address the threat of bee-eaters, migratory birds that feed on bees, providing effective prevention methods to protect bee populations.
Looking ahead, ADAFSA is developing a project to monitor pests and diseases affecting honeybee colonies in the UAE. The project aims to create a comprehensive management program to safeguard honeybee populations and ensure the sustainability of beekeeping practices. Results from this project are expected by the first quarter of 2025.
ADAFSA’s multifaceted approach highlights the importance of local bee species conservation and sustainable beekeeping practices, ensuring the health and productivity of Emirati bees for future generations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the significance of World Bee Day? A: World Bee Day, celebrated on May 20, raises awareness about the importance of bees and the threats they face, promoting efforts to protect pollinators worldwide.
Q: How does ADAFSA support local beekeepers? A: ADAFSA provides high-quality queen bees of the Emirati honeybee breed, organizes educational events, and publishes resources to promote sustainable beekeeping.
Q: Why is the Emirati honeybee species important? A: The Emirati honeybee is adapted to the local environment and plays a crucial role in producing premium local honey varieties and supporting the ecosystem.
Q: What are some challenges faced by beekeepers in the UAE? A: Beekeepers face challenges such as habitat loss, pests, diseases, and competition with imported bee colonies.
Q: What future projects does ADAFSA have planned? A: ADAFSA is developing a project to monitor pests and diseases affecting honeybee colonies, aiming to implement a management program by early 2025.
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