In a bid to preserve their livelihood, Pakistani beekeepers are increasingly compelled to traverse longer distances in search of hospitable environments for their bees. Under the oppressive conditions of climate change and pollution, these beekeepers face mounting challenges to sustain honey production.
On a smog-filled day in Punjab, Malik Hussain Khan, a seasoned beekeeper, meticulously loads his bees onto a truck for a 500-kilometer journey. The aim is to find regions with flowering plants, clean air, and moderate temperatures—crucial elements for honey production. “We move the boxes according to where the weather is good and the flowers bloom,” Khan explains. However, erratic weather patterns have made these migrations more frequent and extended.
Typically, beekeepers in Pakistan migrate seasonally to protect their colonies from extreme weather conditions, spending summers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and winters in central Punjab. Yet, with climate change inducing unpredictable weather and severe pollution, their journeys have become more arduous. This winter, pollution levels soared to hazardous levels, declared a national disaster by the government. The resultant smog impeded the bees’ ability to locate flowers, compounding the effects of reduced rainfall which failed to clear the air.
The consequences are dire, with Pakistan’s honey production witnessing a significant decline. Since 2022, production has dropped by 15%, according to the Honey Bee Research Institute in Islamabad. The institute’s researcher, Muhammad Khalid, attributes this to erratic weather and high temperatures, which hinder flower blooming and, consequently, nectar availability. The loss of flowers directly impacts the bee population and honey production, posing a threat to food security as a third of the world’s food production relies on bee pollination.
Once known for producing 22 varieties of honey, Pakistan now sees this diversity halved due to shortened flowering seasons. Three of the nation’s four honey bee species are endangered, with deforestation exacerbating their plight. Honey trader Sherzaman Momaan laments the drastic changes: “The places that used to be green for our bees to fly 30 years ago, no longer are.”
Despite these challenges, some beekeepers like Yousaf Khan remain resolute, adapting by moving greater distances to escape extreme weather. “Now, we go as far as Sindh for warmer temperatures and to avoid harsh conditions,” he shares.
The constant movement of bees across vast distances presents its own set of risks, including the potential death of bees during transport and the need for artificial feeding since they cannot produce honey while traveling. Additionally, rising fuel costs make these journeys increasingly expensive for beekeepers.
Yet, innovation offers a glimmer of hope. Abdullah Chaudry, a former beekeeper, has developed hives with enhanced ventilation, inspired by international practices in countries like Turkiye and Australia. These new hives are designed to help bees stay cool in extreme temperatures, potentially improving honey production by 10%.
As beekeepers grapple with these evolving challenges, the struggle to adapt continues. Chaudry succinctly captures the ongoing battle: “Extreme heat does not make bees comfortable and instead of making honey, they keep busy cooling themselves. These modern boxes are more spacious, and have different compartments giving more space to the bees.” However, he acknowledges that this innovation is merely a piece of the larger adaptation puzzle.
