The Sultanate of Oman has a centuries-old tradition of beekeeping. The method of producing honey has passed from one generation to another. Omani beekeepers possess special skills, which are combination of traditional and modern.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation marked the World Bee Day (May 20) focusing on Oman's Shahad project. It has been instrumental in boosting bee production in the country.
The traditional occupation’s influence can easily be seen in Omani cuisine.
"In some regions, natural honey is served as a sort of a dip. You dip lamb cubes (mishkak) in a bowl of honey, usually placed in the middle, after wrapping the lamb cube with Rakhal Omani bread. This is usually served on occasions or when entertaining guests'', explained Shabib al Kalbani, Clinical Dietician, Ministry of Health.
Millions of beekeepers depend on bees for their livelihoods and well-being. According to FAO Oman, "Together with wild pollinators, bees play a major role in maintaining biodiversity and promoting sustainability and adaptation to climate change."
Furthermore, close to 75 per cent of the world's crops that produce fruits and seeds for human consumption depends, at least in part, on pollinators for sustained production.
The Shahad project is an innovative public-private partnership that aims to strengthen the apiculture value chain in Oman and empower rural beekeepers to access knowledge, technologies and markets and enhance beekeepers' capacities.
The ongoing project encompasses various activities conducted primarily in the Al Dakhiliyah and North Al Sharqiyah governorates with the aim of strengthening SMEs' capacities for sustainable and economic apiculture, diversifying, and adding value of bee related products and enhancing the level of knowledge and awareness on good beekeeping practices in the country.
Beekeeping goes far beyond the production of honey. It contributes to the achievement of many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Everyone has a role to play in Building Back Better for Bees, rethinking how we relate to nature, and promoting pollinators to encourage biodiversity, support agri-food systems and build resilience.
With the view to raising awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy and on the many challenges they face today, the UN in 2017 designated May 20 as World Bee Day.
This celebration aims to strengthen measures aimed at protecting the key players along the apiculture value chain, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminating of hunger in developing countries.
This year's World Bee Day, fell under the theme 'Beeengaged — Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems'.
FAO Oman said, "Today bees, pollinators and many other insects are declining in abundance. This day provides an opportunity for all of us — whether we work for governments, organisations or civil society or are concerned citizens — to promote actions that will protect and enhance pollinators and their habitats, improve their abundance and diversity and support the sustainable development of beekeeping."
The aim is also to look at beekeeping as a significant occupation as beekeeping tends to be perceived as a hobby or as a sideline activity.
"This may often be true, but a resilient livelihood — one that keeps people out of poverty — is one that has access to a range of options. In this case, apiculture and related activities can be a source of valuable strength to countless numbers of rural people's livelihoods'', the statement said.
Rather than just a hobby, beekeeping may be seen as an important occupation and part of rural life worldwide. In rural communities where access to income is limited, small-scale beekeeping can contribute significantly to livelihood security.
Meanwhile, honey's nutritional value is an important factor why apiculture must be supported.
"Yes, natural honey is packed with minerals and vitamins that assist the human body in multiple chemical reactions. They differ from commercial honey in that in commercial honey you will not normally see the cloudy debris that is evident in raw honey'', said an expert.
From a health perspective he said, "Any type of honey is equal in the amount of carbohydrates and therefore must be consumed in moderation, especially those who need to control their blood glucose due to insulin resistance or those who require weight management, to delay further complications. Honey can be used to supplement children's diet as this is a period of growth and development. It can also be used as a substitute to refined sugar rich desserts and dips."
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