Assessment of the impact of climate change on honey and propolis production in Nigeria

Abstract

Global warming is the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. It was observed that the Earth's average surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C, with about two thirds of the increase occurring since 1980. Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and scientists are more than 90% certain that most of it is caused by increasing concentrations of Greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Honey is the most important primary product of beekeeping, both from quantitative and economic points of view. The history of honey usage parallels that of man and in virtually every culture evidence can be found of its use as a food source and as a symbol employed in religious, magical and therapeutic situations. Increase in honey production can be linked to better climatic conditions. The need to ascertain the impacts of Climate Change on honey production informed this study. Findings from this study that was conducted at the University of Abuja Science and Technology Post Basic Project STEP B (World Bank Assisted) Apiary showed an elongated raining season up to October in 2010 and 2011 beekeeping seasons. The resultant effect of this was the reduction in the volume of honey harvested from the respective hives with a short fall of about 3 L of honey per hive between the harvest of 2010 and 2011 beekeeping seasons. This in turn decreased the return on investment from sales of harvested honey in the region.