Beekeepers report large losses of beehives, especially in the northwestern provinces, one of the main honey-producing areas in the country. It is estimated there are 100,000 hives kept in the country.
The National Livestock Production Council and the Beekeeping Commission of the Animal Health Livestock Agency (Digega) has identified as reasons affecting the bee population the increases in tree felling, growing urbanization and indiscriminate use of chemical herbicides.
On occasion of World Bees Day on 20 May 2019, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) called on countries to redouble efforts to protect bees as key to the global fight against hunger. FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva says the absence of bees and other pollinators would eliminate coffee, apples, almonds, tomatoes and cocoa.
According to data from Digega, exports of pure honey, based on Certificates of No Objection, were 426,452.57 kilograms net (kg), for a value of US$1,102,982.04 in 2017. The destinations were Puerto Rico, USA. (Miami, New York), Curaçao and Martinique.
On the other hand, Digega reports that between 2018 and 2019 there was an export of 226,940.76 kg for a value of US$509,479.60, mixed honey 6,157 kg for a value of US$21,110, and wax, another byproduct of honey, 2,820 kg were exported for a value of US$25,991.49.
The main honey production areas are the northwestern provinces, and the central provinces (Peravia, Ocoa, Monte Plata). As of the 21st of this month, the beekeeping traceability system has registered 1,277 beekeepers, 1,509 apiaries and seven honey-processing plants.
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Listin Diario
23 May 2019