Examining honey production with Geographic Information Systems (GIS): The example of Ordu province

Abstract

Beekeeping is an example of economic farming with its products that can be done without being dependent on plant and ecological production because of its contribution to pollination. This study aims to examine Ordu province, which has been at the top of Turkey's beekeeping activities and honey production for years, with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based on honey production data between 2013 and 2022. By evaluating the honey production data of registered breeders in Ordu province, cartographic maps were produced to evaluate the spatial projection of honey production for the last ten years. After creating a GIS-based database, district-based shape file (.shp extension) data was used for spatial analysis and mapping of the obtained outputs. After these data were defined in the WGS 84 EPSG:4326 coordinate reference system, the spatial distribution of honey production and yield throughout the study period was analyzed using the open-source QGIS version 3.18.3 software. It was determined that the highest honey production belonged to registered beekeepers in Altınordu district during the relevant time period. Altınordu is also the district with the highest number of registered enterprises. It was determined that the honey production data and the number of enterprises of the beekeepers in Gülyalı district, which is one of the neighbouring districts of this district, are lower than Altınordu district. After Altınordu district, Perşembe, Ulubey, Gürgentepe and Gölköy districts have an important place in honey production. Although these districts are neighbours like Gülyalı district, their high production may have resulted from the difference in cooperation between the districts. As a result, it was determined that honey production activities in Ordu province and districts, which is an important city in terms of honey production, vary depending on the districts. The problem of climate change, which is predicted that the world will be exposed to more in the near future, also directs beekeeping activities towards nomadic beekeeping. It can be said that like most of the breeders in Ordu province, registered beekeepers in other cities will be more orientated towards nomadic beekeeping against the threat of global warming.