ALEPPO — Mohammed Khattab inherited beekeeping from his father. Through eight years of conflict, war and economic difficulties, he has struggled to keep his hives going. A native of the town of Marea, in the northern Aleppo countryside, Khattab calls his hives “the greatest legacy” from his father.

Beekeeping is one of the oldest professions in the Aleppo countryside, whose mild climate and fertile plains are favorable for bees. The region, particularly in the north, is well known for its light-colored honey, often with undertones of the fennel and coriander found in abundance there. The beekeepers also boast about the nutritional value and health benefits of their honey.

Unsurprisingly, the civil war that erupted in 2012 sent beekeeping and honey production into decline. This was largely due to the unavailability of the treatments used to protect bees from pests and diseases that can negatively affect production if not controlled. A drought in the region delivered a further blow last year.

Despite recent hardships, local beekeepers are hopeful that a promising season lies ahead after a long rainy winter. They have also been able to import equipment and other supplies from Turkey with the return of relative stability to the countryside.