Mangrove honey production in the Eastern Province: Launch of the sixth season to support beekeepers
The Eastern Province branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced the launch of the sixth season of the Mangrove Honey Production for 2024, with the participation of 54 beekeepers who have begun setting up their hives in six strategic coastal locations. This initiative, which has become a landmark in the Kingdom's beekeeping sector, is part of broader efforts to support sustainable rural development and enhance the utilization of the unique natural resources abundant along the region's coast.
The designated beekeeping sites for this season are spread along the Eastern Province's coastline, including Saihat, Tarout, Dana Al-Rams, Safwa, Ras Tanura, and Jubail. Participating beekeepers have begun positioning their hives alongside dense mangrove forests, anticipating the flowering season, which is the primary source of nectar for this rare type of honey, distinguished by its unique characteristics and high nutritional value.
Mangrove forests: an environmental treasure that supports mangrove honey production
Mangrove forests, known locally as Qarm trees, are among the most important coastal ecosystems in Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Gulf. They not only act as a natural barrier protecting coastlines from erosion, but also provide a habitat for a wide variety of marine life and birds, making them a cornerstone of biodiversity. Historically, these forests have been an integral part of the coastal environment, and initiatives such as honey production aim to raise awareness of their economic and environmental importance and encourage local communities to protect them. Utilizing their blossoms for honey production is an ideal model of a circular economy, generating direct economic returns from the conservation and development of this natural resource.
Economic and environmental impact that extends beyond local boundaries
The impact of this initiative extends beyond the local level to encompass regional and international dimensions. Locally, the initiative empowers beekeepers and provides them with an additional source of income, thus supporting the stability of rural communities and enhancing food security. Regionally, the Kingdom's success in producing mangrove honey in commercial quantities and of high quality places it on the map of countries producing rare honeys and opens new horizons for export to Gulf and global markets seeking unique natural products. Engineer Fahd Al-Hamzi, Director General of the Ministry's branch in the Eastern Province, affirmed that the project represents a comprehensive national model that combines the preservation of coastal environmental resources with the stimulation of rural economic activity, noting that the increasing number of participants reflects growing confidence in the initiative's viability and rewarding returns.
Integrated efforts to ensure the quality of outputs
For his part, Waleed Al-Shuwaired, Assistant Director General for Support and Empowerment, explained that the ministry's specialized teams have completed all logistical and technical preparations, including preparing field routes and facilitating beekeepers' access to the sites. He added that the ministry continues to directly supervise all stages of beekeeping and production in cooperation with partner organizations, with the aim of ensuring the application of best practices in beekeeping and guaranteeing the efficiency of the final outputs. These initiatives fall within the ministry's comprehensive strategy, which aims to translate the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 by expanding environmental sustainability, supporting agricultural professions, and increasing the rural sector's contribution to the gross domestic product.
