"El Niño" Threatens Honey Harvest for 1,000 Nicaraguan Families

Climate change and the intensifying effects of "El Niño" are poised to drastically reduce Nicaragua's honey harvest in 2026, threatening the livelihoods of approximately 1,000 families. This anticipated shortfall extends beyond honey, with coffee, peanuts, rice, sugarcane, beans, and corn also facing reduced yields.

The Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) forecasts a sharp decline in honey production for 2026, estimating only 668.3 tons. This represents a significant 58.1% decrease from the 1,593.1 tons produced in the 2024-2025 cycle. The production cycle typically runs from December to May.

This anticipated drop in production will have a direct impact on Nicaragua's honey exports. Projections indicate that 400.8 metric tons of honey will be exported in 2026, a 53.4% decrease in both volume and value compared to 2025. In 2025, Nicaragua exported 859.7 tons, generating $2.8 million. While the price per ton is expected to remain stable at around $3,300, the reduced volume will significantly cut export revenues.

Beekeepers have already experienced a challenging harvest. One producer, identified as Pancho, who also farms and raises cattle on his northern Nicaragua property, managed to produce only 2,000 liters of honey in the 2024-2025 cycle, generating about 400,000 córdobas in gross income. He had hoped to match this in the current cycle but was disappointed. Despite moving his hives to cooler areas and extending the harvest period to June, he only collected 300 liters. Uriel Jarquín, another producer from Matagalpa, reported a production decrease of over 50%, attributing the low yields to climate change. He noted that the season began with excessive rain, followed by a severe drought, creating unfavorable conditions for the bees.