RIYADH: The Honey and Agricultural Products Festival in the Tabuk region in the north of the Kingdom puts the focus firmly on the role of beekeepers.
There are more than 24 of them at the festival, showcasing various types of honey from the region, from sidr, talh and samer to citrus and eucalyptus.
Honeys of the Tabuk region abound, and beekeeper Hasan Al-Qarni, owner of Azhar Tabuk apiaries, is delighted with the success of this year’s event.
He told Arab News: “The festival is exceptional in the variety of crops, honey products displayed, and its introduction for the consumer to the agricultural products of Tabuk.
“It also provides beekeepers in the region with effective ways to introduce their products.”
Azhar Tabuk’s honey products are diverse and seasonal, with the apiaries following the advice issued from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
Al-Qarni added: “Our products from the beehive include pollen and royal jelly. We also have transformational products that are produced, including moisturizers, creams, and Vaseline.”
He believes the Tabuk region is one of the Kingdom’s growing markets in the field of honey production and sale.
He added: “The Tabuk region is distinguished by the diversity of its vegetation covers, which differ from other regions in the Kingdom.
“The types of flowers present in the region, the diversity of honey, and the mountain ranges are also important.”
Al-Qarni is a trainer and consultant in apiaries and beekeeping production. He holds international certificates in beekeeping from Turkiye, Egypt, and Jordan, and is a member of the Arab Beekeepers Union.
Persistence pays off for beekeepers and organic production of honey usually takes place away from day-to-day agricultural activity.
Al-Qarni said: “The biggest challenge I face is the lack of agreement between beekeepers and agricultural projects in the process of spraying pesticides, which causes the destruction and elimination of bees.”
The Honey and Agricultural Products Festival, which started on Sunday, continues until May 12.
