Development of Beekeeping in Smolyan Region in the Period 2003 - 2016

Rositsa Shumkova, Ralitsa Balkanska

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to analyze the data for number of bee colonies and honey production in Smolyan district in the period 2003 - 2016, as well as to analyze the development of beekeeping in this region. The data for number of bee colonies and honey production for Smolyan are from the Agrostatistics Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. During the analyzed period (2003 - 2016) there was a relatively constant total number of bee colonies and a slight decreasing trend after 2013. There was a significant variation in the total honey production in Smolyan district during the mentioned period. Based on the results, the following conclusions could be given: the largest number of bee colonies for the whole region were registered in 2005 and the smallest number in 2015; the highest honey producyion was in 2009 - 78.1 tons, and the lowest in 2004 - 18.6 tons; in 2016 the number of bee colonies increase only for the municipalities of Devin and Nedelino.

Keywords: beekeeping; honey production; number of bee colonies; Smolyan district

Date published: 2019-05-09