NDVI–honey production paradox: a satellite-based assessment of Turkish beekeeping regions (2013–2024)

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between satellite-derived vegetation indices and agricultural productivity using 12 years (2013-2024) of Sentinel-2 imagery and Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) honey production records. Analysis of four major honey-producing districts (Denizli/Buldan, Kırklareli/Lüleburgaz, Mersin/Erdemli, Mersin/Silifke) revealed a paradoxical negative correlation (r = -0.637, p < 0.001) between NDVI and production metrics, suggesting complex interactions between vegetation characteristics and agricultural output that challenge conventional remote sensing assumptions.