Moroccan Honey Production Threatened as Bee Colonies Collapse

How did we get here? In the turmoil and faced with the seriousness of the situation, the interprofessional federation and the union of beekeepers are divided on the causes of this phenomenon that is hitting their sector hard, reports La Vie Eco.

Last week, the Moroccan Interprofessional Federation of Beekeeping (FIMAP) announced that the collapse of bee colonies is not caused by a disease, based on the results of veterinary analyzes. "We are still measuring the damage and losses suffered by the sector," said its president, M’hamed Aboulal.

For his part, the president of the Union of Professional Beekeepers of Morocco, El Hassan Benbel, stated that this phenomenon is attributable to a contagious disease of the honey bee due to a virus called SBV, short for its English name "Sacbrood Bee Virus". Thanks to his collaboration with the research laboratory of the University Moulay Ismail of Meknes and another University in France, the union has succeeded in the discovery of this disease that generally affects the capped brood.

This disease leads to more or less significant pre-nymph mortalities, which can result in the weakening of the colony. It is not dangerous but rather contagious insofar as it is mainly transmitted through the tools used by the beekeeper. "It first appeared in Béni Mellal in July, before affecting the south and the center and, now, all the other regions," he detailed.

One certainty according to the two parties, honey production this year is compromised and that of next year will be even more so.