Climate change threatens honey production in Jordan and forces beekeepers to reduce their hives

Climate fluctuations, disrupted flowering seasons, and declining natural pastures have led to a drop in honey production in Jordan and increased beekeeping costs, pushing some beekeepers to reduce their apiaries. Beekeeper Ahmed Wajih, 40, reduced his hives by 20-25% after the cost of caring for them exceeded his ability to bear successive losses, amid declining natural pastures, disrupted nectar secretion, and increased need for feeding, medication, and hive transport. Wajih explained that climate changes no longer only affect the timing of seasons but have extended to pastures and plant quality, and that the large temperature difference between day and night, as well as sudden heat and cold waves, directly affect flower nectar secretion. Heavy rainfall over short periods and accompanying floods sometimes cause loss of bee numbers and damage to plants. Data from the beekeeping sector reflects the scale of the decline Wajih describes; according to the head of the Jordanian Beekeepers Union, Muath Kazim, the average hive production has decreased.