Rabat – Heavy rainfall in northern and western Morocco has caused significant losses for beekeepers, as it killed large numbers of bees and isolated several apiaries at a critical time in the production cycle.
The damage comes as the swarming season, known locally as “tatreeḍ,” begins. Running from March to June, this period is essential for bee reproduction and the annual honey production cycle. Many cooperatives and professionals depend on beekeeping as their main source of income.
Hassan Benbel, head of the National Union of Professional Beekeepers, told SNRTnews that heavy rains and floods swept away apiaries located near rivers in areas such as Ksar El Kebir, Sidi Allal Tazi, Jorf El Melha, Ouezzane, and Taounate. He noted that the union is still conducting field assessments and has not yet determined the exact scale of the losses.
Benbel added that some beekeepers did not follow local authorities’ advice to move their hives to safer areas, which increased the damage. However, he stressed that the record rainfall this year could also lead to positive results like helping bee colonies multiply and improving the quality of certain types of honey, including carob, euphorbia, thyme, and rosemary.
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National production is unlikely to be severely affected overall, though lemon and citrus honey in the hardest-hit areas may see limited impact, Benbel said. Honey prices remain stable compared to the same period last year.
He called for government support for affected beekeepers, noting that the Ministry of Agriculture had previously distributed more than 5,000 beehives to victims of wildfires in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. He urged similar measures to help those impacted by floods.
Meanwhile, Mohamed El Frich, a beekeeper and honey producer in the Gharb region, told SNRTnews some cooperatives have suffered losses ranging from 40% to 100%, with a few losing all their hives. He explained that floods and difficult relocation conditions weakened many colonies. In some cases, a hive that normally contains 10 frames now has only two or three.
Despite the challenges, professionals remain cautiously optimistic that good rainfall could support recovery if the swarming season is properly used to rebuild colonies.
Northern and western provinces in Morocco saw unusually heavy rain in recent months, leading to devastating floods. The unstable weather conditions claimed the lives of several people and caused severe material damage.
