Bejaïa Beekeepers Recover from Fire and Oriental Hornet Invasion

In Béjaïa's hills, beekeeping is a long-standing tradition and key income source. Last summer's wildfires destroyed nearly 11,000 hives, severely impacting local honey producers. Alongside pesticide challenges, the arrival of the Oriental hornet via timber shipments at the port further threatened the region's beekeeping heritage.

The Kabylie farming community is responding with support from state agricultural services, which have provided emergency compensation and replacement hives to help beekeepers replenish their apiaries. Additionally, a joint effort by the Agricultural Services Directorate, beekeepers, and forestry officials aims to restore fire-damaged flora and implement trapping methods to control the hornet population.