MUSCAT : Total production rose to 97.8 tons of local honey, compared to 41 tons in 2024 and 56.3 tons in 2023. This increase coincided with a rise in the number of beekeepers in the governorate, reaching 1,054 beekeepers managing 24,862 beehives. This indicator reflects the growing interest in this vital sector and highlights the continuous efforts to develop it and enhance its contribution to the local economy.

Eng. Maha Awadh Al Sukaiti, Head of the Bee Department at the Directorate General of Agricultural Wealth and Water Resources in A’Dhahirah, explained that this surge is due to the ongoing partnership with beekeepers and the application of modern scientific methods in beekeeping and honey extraction.

She emphasised that the Directorate focuses on qualifying beekeepers to produce value-added products to diversify their income sources and meet market demands. In this context, breeders are expanding into the manufacturing of transformational products, which include: producing beeswax and pollen, selling bee packages and queens, manufacturing aromatic and cosmetic materials such as soaps and creams, and producing therapeutic honey extracted from wild plants.

In this regard, she clarified that the Directorate organizes regular training workshops to develop beekeepers’ skills and empower them in areas such as bee propagation, modern extraction methods, and pest control mechanisms. This ensures the sustainability of apiaries and raises production efficiency.

The Directorate also conducts field visits to inspect apiaries and provide technical support, in addition to helping market products by organizing specialized exhibitions that allow beekeepers to showcase their goods and introduce them to consumers.

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