FAO participates in the 4th Arab Beekeeping Association Conference, and 14th Al-Baha International Honey Festival

FAO has participated in the 4th International Arab Beekeeping Association Conference and the 14th Al-Baha International Honey Festival that has been held from 15-21 July 2022, at Baljurashi Governorate, Al Baha Region of Saudi Arabia under the patronage of His Royal Highness Dr. Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prince of Al Baha Region.

At the conference, the FAO team presented three technical papers: Honeybee disease: Nosema its impact, prevention, and control measures; Proposal for National Strategy for Sustainable Honeybee Health and Disease Control in KSA, and Sustainable beekeeping targeting rural development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the Arabic version of the proposal on honeybee health strategy was also presented to Saudi Beekeeper’s Forum. Besides the presentation, the team has also been actively involved in several topics’ discussions. In addition, the team conducted a workshop on “Beekeeping business and marketing management” attended by 20 participants.

At the festival, FAO hosted a booth and displayed some posters and rollups demonstrating FAO’s extensive involvement in strengthening MEWA’s capacity and supporting smallholders. Moreover, several knowledge products such as standard operating procedures for assessment of Nosema identification and quantification; best practices for control and prevention of Nosema; good beekeeping practices and control of the main diseases, organic beekeeping, and many others were prepared and disseminated in the form of flyers, postcards, and booklets.

FAO booth was visited by His Royal Highness, Prince of Al-Baha Region, Dr. Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, accompanied by His Excellency Abdul Rahman Al Fadhli the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture with the entourage of key officials in Saudi Government departments, agencies and associations.

Moreover, the booth has attracted a large number of local and international visitors: beekeeping scientists, researchers, beekeepers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and government agencies.  The visitors exchanged opinions and thoughts, consultations and enjoy the broad range of information, knowledge products and prototypes displayed.