BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran gathers an average of 115,000 tons of honey a year, an official, responsible for the 'beekeeping plan' of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad of Iran, Hossein Akbarpour said, Trend reports citing the ministry.
According to Akbarpour, 60 percent of honey in Iran is gathered from several plants, while 40 percent – from only one plant.
The official added that on average, 10.3 kg of honey is taken from each beehive, and Iran is counting on its beekeepers to increase this amount in the near future.
“In addition, Iran is expected to produce more than 3.5 tons of royal jelly in the current Iranian year (March 21, 2021 through March 20, 2022). The royal jelly is used domestically for the needs of pharmaceutical companies. As of two years ago (from March 21, 2019), the import of royal jelly into Iran was banned,” he said.
As for Iran's honey exports, Akbarpour noted that Iran can export 5,000-10,000 tons of honey a year. During the first eight months of the current Iranian year (March 21 through November 21, 2021), Iran exported 1,080 tons of honey worth 860 billion rials (about $20.4 million).
The official stressed that Iranian honey is mainly exported to China, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Germany, the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iraq and Lebanon.
Within 8 months, Iran also exported 7.14 tons of propolis worth 10 billion rials (about $ 238,000) to China alone, he said.
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