AZE.US
A wave of bee deaths reported in Azerbaijan is causing growing concern among beekeepers, with some warning that the losses could ripple beyond the honey sector and hit agriculture more broadly.
According to local accounts from apiaries, the problem began after last year’s honey extraction season and worsened through the autumn and winter months. In some farms, beekeepers say losses reached 50%, while others reported losing nearly all of their colonies.
Many in the sector blame the spread of the varroa mite, one of the most destructive parasites affecting honey bees. Beekeepers say colonies either died off during the cold season or abandoned their hives altogether.
One experienced beekeeper said he had started the new season with heavy losses despite years in the field. By his estimate, around 60% of bees may have been lost nationwide, while his own farm saw about half of its colonies wiped out. He said weather conditions may have played a role, but pointed mainly to the rapid spread of mites.
Beekeepers say the damage may soon show up in the market as well. Heavy colony losses this spring could drive up the price of bee families and make recovery more difficult for smaller producers. Many also say they are left with rows of empty hives and little clarity on how to rebuild.
Industry representatives are now calling for stronger institutional support, including laboratory testing to determine the exact causes of the die-off and identify the most effective treatment methods.
Badreddin Hasratov, chairman of the Azerbaijan Beekeepers Association, said samples had been collected and sent to Turkey for analysis. According to him, the results showed the spread of different viruses in apiaries, helping explain why bee deaths in the country reached roughly 30% to 40%.
He added that losses were partly brought under control in October and November, after which colonies were placed into wintering conditions and began the new development cycle normally.
The timing is especially sensitive. Bees are now entering a key seasonal phase, collecting water, laying eggs and gathering pollen from newly blossoming trees. That has sharpened concerns that the problem may not remain confined to honey production alone.
If the scale of the losses is confirmed, the issue could become a wider agricultural risk, since bee populations play a critical role in pollination and crop productivity.