New Delhi, Jan 5 (Bureau) India is renegotiating the duty structure imposed by various countries for boosting honey exports as it looks at diversifying market access for this product, exports of which are majorly dependent on one market – the United States, accounting for more than 80 per cent of the shipments. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been focusing on boosting exports by ensuring quality production and a multi-pronged effort has been mounted including the facilitation of honey producers in accessing export markets and availing government assistance under different schemes, quality certification and lab testing. India started its first organized exports in the year 1996-97.
“We are working in close collaboration with the state government, farmers and other stakeholders in the value chain to boost exports to other countries and regions such as the United Kingdom, European Union and South East Asia,” M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA said on Wednesday. The agri export development body is also working with exporters to deal with challenges such as higher freight cost, limited availability of containers in peak honey export season, higher nuclear magnetic resonance test costs and inadequate export incentives. India exported 59,999 metric tonnes (MT) of natural honey worth Rs 716 crore (US $ 96.77 million) during 2020-21 with the United States taking a major share at 44,881 MT. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and Canada were the other top destinations for Indian honey. World honey exported in 2020 was 736,266.02 MT with India ranking 8th and 9th in the world in honey producing and exporting countries respectively. The world honey production in 2019 was 1721 thousand metric tonnes and China, Turkey, Canada, Argentina,
Iran and USA are among the major honey-producing countries, accounting for 50% of total world production. The Government has approved allocation of Rs 500 crore for the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) for three years (2020-21 to 2022-23) as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat initiative. In India, the north-east region and Maharashtra are key areas for natural honey production in the country. Around 50% of the honey produced in India is consumed domestically and the rest is exported across the globe. Honey exports have huge potential, especially amidst the COVID19 pandemic as an effective immunity booster and a healthier alternative to sugar. The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission is working towards the goal of ‘Sweet Revolution’, being implemented through the National Bee Board (NBB) with a budget of Rs170 crore for developing beekeeping and honey clusters, improving quality and productivity of honey as also increasing exports.