The Silent Collapse: How Climate Change is Stinging Pakistan’s Honey Heartland

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For Wali Badshah, the rhythm of the seasons has broken. For 45 years, the life of a beekeeper in Kohat was dictated by the reliable bloom of the landscape—a predictable cycle of nectar, harvest, and sustenance. Today, that cycle is a casualty of a changing world.

"Over the last 10 years, I have observed a decline in my profits, while expenses have continued to increase," Badshah says, his voice heavy with the fatigue of a trade under siege. "Last year, I received Beri and Sidr honey in small quantities, but I could not get other varieties, especially Phulai honey."

In the nectar-rich valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), once the undisputed heart of Pakistan’s legendary honey industry, the golden harvest is turning to dust. It is a slow-motion catastrophe driven by a deadly convergence: rising temperatures, erratic weather, rampant deforestation, and the indiscriminate use of pesticides.

A Tenuous Lifeline

The honey trade is not merely a hobby; it is an economic engine. Data from the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) estimates that 1.5 million Apis mellifera (western honey bee) hives anchor a sector that supports roughly 2 million workers—including farmers, transporters, and laborers. It is a vital artery for the regional economy, with exports reaching as far as the Gulf, Europe, and the United States.

But the industry is bleeding. In 2011, Pakistan exported roughly 700 containers of high-value Sidr honey. By 2024, that figure had plummeted to approximately 245.

"We are unable to meet the demands of international buyers," says Sher Zaman Mohmand, president of the All Pakistan Beekeepers, Exporters and Honey Traders Association. "We lose our share in the international market, and traders fulfill their requirements by importing from other countries."

The Multi-Front War

The collapse is the result of a synchronized environmental assault.

The Floral Famine: Deforestation has been brutal. In areas like Kohat, Nizampur, and Mohmand, the nectar-rich forests that once carpeted the landscape are vanishing. "Twenty years ago, these areas had a larger number of Sidr, Phulai, and other nectar-rich trees," Mohmand notes. "Today, less than half remain."

The Chemical Toll: When the trees disappear, desperate beekeepers move their hives closer to agricultural fields, placing their colonies in the crosshairs of modern farming. "When farmers spray pesticides, bees come into contact with these toxic chemicals and are either killed or weakened," explains Ashfaq Ahmad, a beekeeper from Peshawar.

Biological Breakdown: The crisis is also occurring at a microscopic level. Quratulain Tahira, an entomologist at the Agriculture Research Institute, points out that rising atmospheric CO2 levels are stripping flower pollen of its protein content. "When honeybees consume low-protein pollen, their immunity weakens, making them more susceptible to diseases," she explains. This effectively leaves the bees malnourished, susceptible to illness, and unable to thrive.

A Disconnect in Policy

In 2020, the government launched the "Billion Tree Honey" initiative, a bold vision to create 87,000 green jobs and generate billions in revenue through targeted afforestation. Yet, for those on the front lines, the policy remains trapped in the realm of rhetoric.

Haji Nawroz Khan, general secretary of the All Pakistan Beekeepers and Honey Dealers Association, argues that the government has failed to prioritize the specific tree species—like Sidr, Phulai, and Lychee—that bees actually need. "Instead of new afforestation, deforestation of the existing forests is underway," he laments.

The Way Forward

As the average honey yield per hive drops from a historic 20–25 kg to a measly 10–15 kg, the window to save the industry is closing. Experts suggest a urgent, three-pronged shift in strategy:

Ecological Restoration: Moving beyond generic tree-planting to the strategic cultivation of nectar-rich native species that provide a reliable feed source.

Modernization: Investing in training for beekeepers to adopt modern apiculture techniques that can mitigate the effects of shifting climate patterns.

Scientific Validation: Equipping local universities to research the unique medicinal properties of Pakistani honey, transforming it from a commodity into a high-value, research-backed export.

For beekeepers like Wali Badshah, the future of the honey trade is no longer just about profit margins; it is about the survival of an ancient, essential way of life. Without decisive action, the hum of the hives in K-P may soon fall silent, leaving behind a landscape as barren as the balance sheets of those who once tended it.