Amman, July 22 (Petra) – The second Jordanian Honey Festival, organized by the Jordanian Beekeepers Association, opened Wednesday at King Hussein Gardens in Amman.
Ministry of Agriculture Secretary-General Mohammad Hiyari said beekeeping is a promising agricultural sector that contributes to food security and sustainable rural development. He highlighted bees’ essential role in pollinating crops, increasing agricultural productivity, and preserving ecological balance and biodiversity.
Hiyari underlined that the ministry supports the beekeeping sector by developing regulatory legislation, strengthening technical and extension services, providing concessional financing, supporting scientific research, and promoting modern technologies to improve the quality and competitiveness of Jordanian honey.
He added the ministry is working to develop the sector’s regulatory and monitoring framework by licensing apiaries and assigning national identification numbers to beehives to establish an accurate database, improve planning, apply traceability and oversight measures, and enhance services provided to beekeepers.
Hiyari said the festival provides an important platform for promoting Jordanian honey and related products, strengthening consumer confidence in locally produced honey, and allowing beekeepers to exchange expertise and showcase their products.
He noted that the sector’s value chains include high-value products with economic and medicinal applications, such as beeswax, royal jelly, pollen, and propolis, in addition to opportunities in apiary tourism and apitherapy.
He stressed the importance of strengthening strategic partnerships with the Jordanian Beekeepers Association, research institutions, universities, and the private sector to support innovation and open new domestic and international markets. Hiyari thanked the union and the festival’s organizers for their continued initiatives supporting the sector.
Jordanian Beekeepers Association President Muath Kazem said the festival is the Kingdom’s largest national event dedicated to the beekeeping sector and provides a leading platform connecting beekeepers directly with consumers, without intermediaries or lengthy supply chains.
He added the festival builds on the success of its first edition last year, which attracted more than 10,000 visitors over three days and generated direct sales exceeding JD60,000. He said the results reflected consumers’ strong confidence in Jordanian honey.
Kazem noted that Jordanian beekeepers deserve support and recognition for the high quality of their products, which has enabled them to distinguish themselves in international competitions and events.
He added that beekeepers’ role extends beyond production, as they help preserve ecological balance and contribute to food security and the sustainability of the national environment.
He said the festival is not limited to marketing, but combines awareness activities, commercial engagement, and community, entertainment, and cultural events to provide an integrated national experience showcasing the quality of Jordanian honey and supporting the national economy.
On the sidelines of the opening, the Agricultural Credit Corporation signed a cooperation agreement with the association to regulate and guide concessional financing provided to beekeepers, helping ensure the sustainability of their projects and improve their productive and developmental efficiency.
Agricultural Credit Corporation Director General Mohammad Dogan said the agreement formed part of the corporation’s role as the Ministry of Agriculture’s financing arm for supporting agriculture and livestock production.
He highlighted the strategic importance of beekeeping, which extends beyond its direct economic value to preserving ecological balance and biodiversity, alongside the expanding therapeutic, preventive, and nutritional uses of bee products.
Dogan said the partnership with the union aims to establish a framework for financing and field guidance while avoiding operational practices that could adversely affect beekeeping activities. He added that the agreement focuses on providing beneficiaries with the training and capacity-building programs required to ensure the success and sustainability of financed initiatives.
Such initiatives, partnerships, and specialized festivals, he continued, directly strengthen the resilience of the national economy and support agriculture-led growth. He expressed hope that these partnerships would be further strengthened to serve farmers and achieve the intended development impact.
//Petra// AO
