The profession of beekeeping is one of the ancient Omani professions that are of great interest to beekeepers in the Wilayat of Manah, especially with the availability of the environment, nature and climatic conditions that the Sultanate enjoys that are suitable for honey breeding.
Muhammad al Busaidi, one of the honeybee breeders in the Wilayat of Manah, began his interest in raising honeybees more than 30 years ago and has sufficient experience to deal with the bee world. He says: We started raising honeybees and taking care of them since childhood, so we used to go with our father to the apiary, and day after day the interest grew up. Our attachment and passion for bees increased until we got to know everything that bees and beekeepers need and we got enough experience to deal with bees.
“Raising honeybees requires attention, care and practical experience in this field. Without experience, the beekeeper will not succeed, because there are different seasons that the beekeeper must deal with, such as the dry season, and there are diseases that affect bees that need treatment, and there is special nutrition for bees. the beekeeper had to be familiar with everything. the pastures and the atmosphere have an important role in the productivity and quality of honey. A good breed of bees must also be selected, the best of which is the authentic Omani breed that coexists with the atmosphere of the Sultanate.
Concerning the seasons of honey and the stages of its production, Al Busaidi said that there are several honey seasons in the Sultanate, including the Sumur (Al-Baram) season, which is one of the best seasons in Oman, usually in the middle of April to the end of June, and the Sidr season, which is usually in November and is distinguished by its flavour. It is a little sweater than Sumur honey. The season of Al Sarh is not popular much due to the unavailability of this tree in the Sultanate and because of the short period of its fruit and the season of the Tharmad tree, which is one of the desert trees and usually produces its honey in the middle of February, and there is also honey of harmal, honey of Shua, and honey of frankincense.
“Honey has great economic benefit, especially before the last five years, compared to these years in which the number of bees and beekeepers increased, which led to a sharp decline in the value of bee colonies (hives). It has a great nutritional value, as mentioned in the Holy Quran : (There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men.) and therefore honey is a cure for very many diseases, and it is also one of the most powerful antibiotics for the body as it strengthens the immune system in humans.
The department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in the Wilayat of Manah plays a major role in beekeeping preservation, as it contributed to the spread of the number of hives and to the education of those interested in bees by providing them with courses and field consultations, and it also provides some beekeepers with some tools.
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