'Honey production falls by 23%'

AMMAN — Some 130 tonnes of honey were produced in the first six months of 2016, down from 170 tonnes in the same period in 2015, the Department of Statistics (DoS) said on Tuesday.

While honey production dropped 23 per cent, pollen production rose by 526 per cent in 2016 to 2,009kg, according to a semi-annual report on apiaries issued by DoS.

Meanwhile 1,429 swarms were produced between January and June, compared to 3,814 swarms during the same months in 2015, marking a 62 per cent decrease.

The number of beekeepers stood at 1,066 in the first half of 2016.