Myanmar’s marketable honey is produced in hilly and plainland areas during the cold season. This year, the country is set to ship over 3,000 tonnes of honey to foreign countries, as reported by the Apiculture Division under the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department.
Myanmar, rich in forest resources, has the potential to produce organic honey. The country annually produces around 2,000 tonnes of honey for local consumption and exports about 4,000 tonnes. Plans are underway to export over 3,000 tonnes of honey this year. The departments in 24 townships across eight regions and states, along with private bee farmers, contribute to the yearly honey production. The department supervises 1.5 million acres of crops for bees to pollinate.
“In the beekeeping industry, the major crops are edible oil corps for agriculture. These include winter crops such as pulses, beans, corn, sesame, and sunflower. Bee-mediated pollination is crucial for increasing sunflower seed yield, with bees being the best among insects. Observing bees near sunflower fields indicates high production rates. We have already exported nearly 2,000 tonnes of honey this year, and with winter crops available until March, we anticipate obtaining winter honey. The department is pleased to see the high yield through bee pollination,” said U Kyaw Kyaw Oo, in charge of Apiculture Division of Yangon.
Foreign countries regularly purchase Myanmar’s honey, and the expansion of beekeeping businesses can create opportunities to boost export volumes. Sunflower and jujube honey are preferred by foreign countries.
The high production rates of the private sector and modern beekeeping techniques guarantee export volumes and aim to improve the socioeconomic status of bee farmers.
Beekeeping businesses primarily operate in Pyawbwe and hilly regions for commercial purposes. Enzymes convert complex sugar into simple sugar, and the flavor and texture vary depending on the flowers. China stands as the main purchaser of Myanmar’s honey.
The beekeeping business in Myanmar started in 1979 and began exporting in 1985. Myanmar mainly delivers honey to Japan, China, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. Sunflower honey, jujube honey, and niger honey are the most popular products, with sunflower honey leading the market. China is the largest honey-producing country globally. Viet Nam, Myanmar, and Thailand are the biggest producers and exporters of honey among ASEAN countries. Myanmar is making efforts to increase honey production rate. — Nyein Thu(MNA)/KTZH
