BEEKEEPING
&
DEVELOPMENT 39
ZOOMING IN
ON.
IAQ Country Iraq consists of two regions: the Government of Iraq composed of 15 governorates, and
The North with three governorates.
Population Mr Shoaa and Mr Saad
in their apiary in
an apricot orchard near Baghdad
20
million
(FAO) Programme for Emergency Assistance to Iraq.
Date
Iraq is bordered by Iran, Kuwait, Jordan, The Gulf of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey. The main topographical features are the two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, which flow from Turkey and Syria in the north to the Gulf in the south. The plains surrounding the rivers are fertile. To the north and north-east are mountains, to the west is desert.
Event
1970s
1970s-1980s
1985-1987
Frame hive beekeeping becomes well-established, highly dependent on importation of equipment. 90% of honeybee colonies lost.
1990
1992
Extent of beekeeping ‘Every farmer a beekeeper’ Over 500 000 traditional hives.
Varroa jacobsoni has severe impact:
Many traditional beekeepers give up.
Gulf war: frame hives widely Number of frame hives broken up, and colonies remaining is less than 500. plundered, beekeeping impossible. UN sanctions introduced. After the Gulf war beekeepers endeavour to redevelop their beekeeping. Apistan was available initially and effective against
7,000 frame hives made locally and colonies re-established.
Varroa jacobsoni.
1994
1995
EIGHT
Before the Gulf War, oi! accounted for 95% of Iraq's export earnings.
However since the UN embargo was imposed in 1990, most trade has been forbidden between Iraq and UN Member States. Iraq now is in a very bad economic situation. Yet before the Gulf War Iraq was a prosperous country, with first-class medical facilities and 22 universities Today the situation is very different. Malnutrition is widespread and famine is
only just being prevented. There are severe shortages of food, seeds, fertilisers, equipment, spare parts and essential medicines.
Beekeeping situation All of the above has had
Capital
Geography
This article was written by Nicola Bradbear who visited Iraq in December 1995 as part of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Present situation
First appearance of ‘crawling bees’ in spring 1994.
More than 30,000 colonies of honeybees in frame hives.
Reappearance of ‘crawling bees’ in spring 1995, more severe.
Numbers considerably reduced from previous year.
implications for Iraq’s bees and beekeepers. Since Iraq must now endeavour to become self-sufficient in food production, there is great need for local honey, and for good crop pollination. Yet the beekeepers face many problems, with serious losses of their bees.
Honeybee species and races The indigenous honeybee is Apis
mellifera
syriaca. Honeybees have been introduced from many countries during the 1970s and 1980s:
they range in size and colour, and do not collect much propolis. The bees are fairly gentle to work with and not highly defensive. In northern Iraq some of the traditional hives contain dark bees which use much propolis around the entrance to their nests: these may be indigenous bees. Apis florea is reported recently to be in eastern Iraq (B&D 24). It is not known whether
Apis florea has naturally increased its distribution westwards, or whether this
represents an introduction by man, as has happened in the Sudan.
Plants for bees Iraq has in the past had plant resources to support good levels of beekeeping. Many of the major Iraqi food crops provide useful pollen and/or nectar for bees. These include: dates, maize, coffee, pulses, oil seeds, fruits, vegetables and spices.
Beekeeping has become harder during the five years of UN sanctions because of the change in agriculture which has taken place: monocultural agriculture has largely replaced mixed farming.
A Bees for Development publication
