Doha, May 19 (QNA) - The Ministry of Municipality showcased the achievements of the national honey bee project, on the occasion of World Honey Bee Day, which falls on May 20th of each year, stressing its continued efforts to support sustainable agricultural development and enhance the beekeeping sector and local honey production in the State of Qatar.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry indicated that the project, which was launched in 2013, is one of the leading national projects in supporting agricultural production, protecting the environment and developing the beekeeping sector, as part of initiatives to increase the volume of agricultural production and raise farm productivity.

The ministry added that the project combines economic, environmental and awareness dimensions, by supporting farmers and encouraging them to invest in beekeeping and the production of high-quality local honey. 165 Qatari farms have benefited from it, while the number of beehives has increased from 1,650 at the start of the project to about 3,600 currently, with an estimated annual production of about 21,600 kilograms of local honey.

The ministry indicated that the efforts made contribute to diversifying farmers' sources of income, improving natural pollination rates for agricultural crops, raising farm productivity, in addition to enhancing biodiversity and wildlife within the agricultural environment, and supporting the production of local honey that meets the highest quality standards.

As part of the development of the beekeeping sector, the Department of Agricultural Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality has been working since 2015 to produce an average of 250 virgin queen bees annually, with the aim of supporting local apiaries, improving breeds, raising the efficiency of hives and increasing production.

The project also provides ongoing technical support to the beneficiary farms, through the implementation of approximately 80 field visits per month by engineers from the Agricultural Development Department, which include providing technical guidance related to apiary management, disease prevention and improvement of production practices.

On the awareness side, the department organizes guidance and educational lectures targeting farm owners, beekeepers, school and university students, and hobbyists, with the aim of spreading the culture of beekeeping and promoting awareness of the importance of bees and their vital role in maintaining ecological balance and increasing agricultural production, with an average of 8 major lectures per year.

The department also provides a honey analysis service to verify its compliance with quality requirements, in addition to involving beneficiary farmers in agricultural exhibitions and local honey exhibitions, which contributes to promoting Qatari honey and enhancing its competitiveness in the local market.

In this context, Director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality Eng. Youssef Khaled Al Khulaifi emphasized that the national honey bee project reflects the Ministry of Municipality's interest in supporting farmers and adopting sustainable agricultural projects that achieve economic and environmental value, noting that bees are an essential element in enhancing food security through their vital role in pollinating agricultural crops and increasing their productivity. (QNA)