Shafaq News /beekeeping and honey production are one of the ancient professions in Iraq and Kurdistan -dated back to 8000 years by historians, and yet it has been exposed to factors of volatility and regression -alongside the agricultural and economic fields- due to the unstable political and economic conditions in the region.

In the past, Duhok province and Nineveh plains used to be known for the spread of the profession of beekeeping.

The production of honey in Duhok is severely threatened due to the COVİD-19 pandemic, as well as the intensive Turkish bombardment of the border area.

"This year, the beekeepers are suffering from the Turkish bombing of the border areas; where most beekeepers move their bees due to the appropriate conditions there in the summer, and the presence of dense pastures where there are many kinds of flowers", Salih Sulayman, a beekeeper from Shiladzy area in Al-Amadiya district told Shafaq News agency, adding "The outbreak of the pandemic -and the imposition of closure measures, made us sell last season’s honey production to the local consumer which affected the production greatly and forced us to accept 60,000-70,000 dinars for a kilo of honey, while the price per kilo last year was 100,000 dinars".

Salih said that he lost more than 30,000 dollars this season because he was unable to take care of 60 hives in the border areas due to the Turkish shelling, and the fact that bears broke and ate his honeybee cells.

Nazar Mohammed Shareef, head of the beehive department in Duhok’s Agriculture Department, told Shafaq News agency that the product will be heavily affected this season. Adding, "The return will be negative because of the security situation in the border area; because farmers move their beehives at this time of the year to the border areas –for its richness in flowers and its convenient atmosphere”.

According to the Duhok beekeepers association, there are 3,283 beekeepers, including 400 women.

The authorities estimated the annual production of honey in Duhok at 110 tonnes of natural honey.