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Beekeeping.. A lucrative business in Lebanon

Beekeeping workers removing the honey from the beehive
Beekeeping workers removing the honey from the beehive

By Ayoub Khudaj

BEIRUT, Nov 5 (KUNA) -- Beekeeping in Lebanon had become a lucrative business that provided a steady income for many families in the country.
Statements, such as the one propagated by the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, revealed that the beekeeping industry had provided some 6,000 Lebanese families with steady income.
Bees are well-known to be very vital for the environment due to their roles as honey providers as well as pollinators for several kinds of plants and flowers.
Speaking on the subject, member of the Arab beekeeping union, Nehad Salha told KUNA that she and her husband considered beekeeping as a hobby at first.
After a considerable time had passed, the hobby turned to a profitable business that attracted a number of companies interested in the brand, said Salha who revealed that the capital for this line of business was so easily obtainable that anyone could start their beekeeping commercial enterprise.
It is very important to understand the ABCs of the business before venturing into uncharted waters, Salha advised those seeking beekeeping as a livelihood.
Also contributing to the discussion, head of the beekeeping studies at the American University of Beirut (AUB) Professor Rami Ollaik said that there were around 10,000 beekeepers in Lebanon using the profession as a main and secondary source of income.
A single beehive in Lebanon produces around 8 to 15 kilos of honey, said Ollaik, adding that this number was low if it was compared to single beehives in other countries which produced around 45 to 60 kilos.
He said that bees were one of the world greatest flowers and plants pollinators, saying that the pollination capacity of a bee was 150 times greater than any other species.
Ollaik called for providing beekeepers with necessary instructions and assistance to further develop this business in Lebanon. (end) ayb.gta