Forest and land fires (karhutla) in Central Kalimantan have severely impacted honey bee…

Forest and land fires (karhutla) in Central Kalimantan have severely impacted honey bee farming. The smoke haze threatens bee colonies, nearly halting honey harvests, while feeding and maintenance costs continue.

Budiyana, who has faced karhutla since 2015, described how unprepared they were when the smoke first appeared. Their bee colonies, initially numbering in the dozens, drastically declined due to high mortality.

The 2026 smoke haze repeated this threat. Budiyana explained that during haze periods, beekeepers cannot focus on honey production but must prioritize saving their colonies from extinction.