Fuel price hikes reduce the number of migratory beekeepers
The increase in transportation costs due to fuel price hikes in recent years has also affected migratory beekeepers. In Yozgat, the number of migratory beekeepers has dropped from 150 to 30.
İHA
Air temperatures rising above seasonal norms in the summer months and the lack of expected rainfall during the winter season have negatively affected beekeepers.
Yozgat Beekeepers Association Vice President Ali Sarı stated that in addition to seasonal changes, the hikes in fuel prices have particularly affected migratory beekeepers.
"WE CANNOT COVER THE EXPENSES"
Stating that a migratory beekeeper needs to pay 75-80 thousand liras just for transportation fees to travel from Yozgat to Antalya and back, Sarı noted that for this reason, migratory beekeepers are unable to leave their own provinces.
Sarı said, "Because transportation is expensive, our migratory beekeepers cannot go to Antalya, Adana, Mersin, or Muğla. Since our fellow beekeepers do not have much income anyway, they are suffering losses. Migratory beekeepers no longer want to go anywhere else. Because the transportation fee is too high, even I used to go. We cannot cover the expenses."
"THEY LEAVE THEIR HIVES AND GO BACK TO THEIR HOMETOWNS"
Recalling that around 150 migratory beekeepers used to come to Yozgat in previous years, Sarı stated that the number of those arriving has decreased due to transportation costs.
Sarı said, "We used to have many migratory beekeepers coming to Yozgat. Especially from Ordu, Muğla, and Mersin, there were many. However, there has been a serious decline in the last 2 years. More or less 150 of our migratory beekeepers used to come to Yozgat. Currently, only 20-30 beekeepers are coming. And even they do not transport them; they leave their hives here and go back to their hometowns. They leave them here and go because they do not want to pay for transportation. About 20 of our migratory beekeepers from Yozgat used to go out of the province. Currently, only a few people from Sorgun go to Mersin. No one else is going."