Nicosia, Cyprus. Honey production in Cyprus has fallen by as much as 30% in recent years due to adverse weather, the agricultural department said on Friday. Officials said prolonged drought and heat have reduced average honey yields per hive despite lower colony losses than in some neighbouring countries.
Weather-driven decline and sector pressures
Senior agricultural officer Lysandros Lysandrides said average honey yields per hive have dropped by at least a third amid prolonged drought and high temperatures. The decline comes as beekeepers also face escalating costs and competition from low-priced imports.
Role of bees in agriculture and biodiversity
Bees contribute to the pollination of around 75% of plant species worldwide and up to 90% of many fruit and arable crops. Officials said maintaining healthy bee populations is essential for biodiversity, environmental balance and agricultural productivity as the island becomes increasingly exposed to climate change impacts.
Global stressors and comparative losses
Lysandrides said pressure on bees is a global phenomenon, driven primarily by habitat loss through urbanisation and the overuse of pesticides. He cited severe losses elsewhere, including estimates that Bulgaria has lost up to 90% of its colonies and the United States is expected to record losses of around 70%.
Local conditions and impact on forage and health
In Cyprus, colony losses remain lower, which Lysandrides attributed to local beekeepers’ experience in dry conditions and investment in replacing weakened hives, though production has still been hit hard. Higher temperatures, prolonged drought, fires and expanding urban areas have reduced wild vegetation, limiting the availability of pollen and nectar. He added that changes in bees’ biological cycle have weakened immune systems, leaving colonies more vulnerable to disease and predators whose activity has increased in recent years.
How should Cyprus support beekeepers as honey yields decline and environmental pressures on bees increase?