60-70% of Bees Die in Ararat Valley and Ashtarak: What is the Reason?

In the Ararat Valley and around the city of Ashtarak, 60-70% of bee colonies have died due to a lack of warning to beekeepers regarding pesticide spraying in the fields. This information was provided to Sputnik Armenia by Armen Nazaryan, Vice President of the National Association of Beekeepers of Armenia.

According to him, there was no official notification to beekeepers about the commencement of actions against agricultural pests, which could have led to protective measures being taken. 'Everyone warned their acquaintances, but there was no mass notification. Those who were aware informed their friends, while those who didn’t know or couldn’t move their bees lost them. This year, especially, there have been many reports of bee poisoning, but nothing could be done,' Nazaryan stated.

The beekeeper noted that incidents of bee mortality occur quite frequently, particularly during the spring spraying season. Regarding the issues in the beekeeping sector, Nazaryan pointed out that one of the most serious problems is the certification of honey quality. 'This concerns eco-certification, which requires significant financial resources. However, a beekeeper, spending that much money, may not achieve results, especially in small enterprises,' the expert said.

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