An experienced apiarist has praised women’s beekeeping skills as an increasing number of honeybee hive managers in southern Austria are female.
Almost one in five beekeepers in Carinthia are women and current trends reportedly show that their number is on the rise.
Hans Zmölnig – who heads the local apiculture association in the district of Spittal – said: “Women often have a great sense for which treasures bees have to offer for us.”
Speaking to the Oberkärnten Online news website, he emphasised: “It’s not just about honey. We also make use of propolis and blossom pollen as well as beeswax cloth.”
Many parents wrap their kids’ school snacks in such cloth, Hans explained.
This year’s honey harvest in the region has been a mixed bag, according to the esteemed apiarist from Spittal.
Hans said some colleagues in the region of Upper Carinthia were satisfied.
Asked to explain why the production of blossom honey collapsed in vast parts of Carinthia, Hans said: “Springtime was warm which is good for the bees’ breeding. However, temperatures suddenly dropped in May.”
Carinthia has 560,000 inhabitants. Around 3,400 of them manage honeybee hives.
