New Data on the Production of Natural Honey in Morocco: Practices of Beekeepers, Melliferous Plants, and Production Features

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Published: 2025-12-01
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v9i11.50
Keywords:
Morocco, Treatments, Limiting Factors, Quality, Honey Production, Practices, Beekeepers

Main Article Content

Safae Chentoufi
Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering (LFEEE), Faculty of sciences and technologies, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, PB 2202, Fez 30000, Morocco.
Aziz Zahri
Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering (LFEEE), Faculty of sciences and technologies, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, PB 2202, Fez 30000, Morocco.
Houria Nekhla
Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering (LFEEE), Faculty of sciences and technologies, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, PB 2202, Fez 30000, Morocco | Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (ISPITS), Errachidia, Morocco
Wafae Squalli
Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering (LFEEE), Faculty of sciences and technologies, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, PB 2202, Fez 30000, Morocco.
Ismail Mansouri
Research team: Biology, Environment and Health, Department of Biology, Errachidia Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Moulay Ismail, Meknes, Morocco.
Amal Azzouzi
Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering (LFEEE), Faculty of sciences and technologies, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, PB 2202, Fez 30000, Morocco.
et Lahsen El Ghadraoui
Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering (LFEEE), Faculty of sciences and technologies, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, PB 2202, Fez 30000, Morocco.

Abstract

Despite the importance of honey production in food, medicine, and the economy of Morocco, the data on practices, productivity, and melliferous plants are rare and fragmentary. Therefore, this study evaluated the age, gender, and practices of beekeepers from Fez-Meknes, Daraa-Tafilalet, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima. Honey production addressed the used plants, quality, quantity, and limiting factors. Data was collected via questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive and multivariate statistics. In total, 100 beekeepers were included, with a dominance of men (90%) aged between 25 and 50 years. 60% of beekeepers used modern hives. Apis mellifera intermissa was the most common (65%). Most participants (74%) practice transhumance, and 45% of beekeepers are transhumant. In total, 10 melliferous plants were recorded, and the most popular were jujube (14%), carob (13%), and eucalyptus (12%). These plants flower in spring, summer, and autumn. Varroa presented the largest menace to bee health (44%), followed by hornets (16%), nosema (15%), moths (14%), and loque (12%). To protect their beehives, participants use different treatments, including fumigation with local medicinal plants (37%), followed by thymol (21%). This study revealed new data on the beekeepers, production, and practices in different areas of Morocco and is suggested to serve as a reference for future studies and for conservation efforts, mainly for bee and plant species.

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Vol. 9 No. 11 (2025): Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research (TJNPR)

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Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

New Data on the Production of Natural Honey in Morocco: Practices of Beekeepers, Melliferous Plants, and Production Features. (2025). Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research , 9(11), 5629 – 5637. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v9i11.50

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