Sultanate’s honey markets changing industry fortunes
Sales rose by 16% in 2019 over 2018, says ministry
Omani Honey Market is rapidly developing into a profitable business for thousands of apiarists actively involved in the industry. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has organised honey markets since 2014. Sales jumped by 15.7 per cent in 2019 over 2018.
The sales from the 13th Omani Honey Market, which was held from December 25 to 28, 2019 at the Muscat Grand Mall, reached RO142,026. While the market organised in June 2019 saw sales of RO99,000, taking the total for 2019 to RO241,026.
In comparison, at the 10th Omani Honey Market (June 2018) apiarists sold 3,498kg of honey worth RO75,980. While in the next one organised in December 2018, the sale went up to RO132,201, taking the total for 2018 to RO208,181.
By organising the honey markets, the ministry has been successful in enhancing honey bee breeders’ skills, raising public awareness on the Omani high quality honey products and encouraging youths to venture into the field.
The major achievement of the markets has been in bringing the apiarists and consumers on a single platform, increasing their knowledge of Omani honey as well as getting their hands on different varieties of honey at reasonable prices.
An official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) said, “Sales of the 13th Omani Honey Market, which was held from December 25 to 28, 2019 at the Muscat Grand Mall, reached RO142,026 compared to RO132,201 at the 11th Omani Honey Market held in December 2018.”
He added, “The previous honey markets have contributed greatly to increasing production. In December 2018, 32 beekeepers from different parts of the country took part in the 11th Omani Honey Market. They sold 5,669kg of honey with sales reaching RO132,201. Some 53 beekeepers took part in the 12th Omani Honey Market which was held from June 26 to 29, 2019. They sold 3,800kg of honey with sales reaching RO99,000, while 62 beekeepers sold 5,894kg of honey with sales reaching RO142, 526 at the 13th edition.”
He added, “The number of beekeepers in the sultanate reached 5,336 with 112,068 honeycombs that produced 672,208kg of honey in 2018. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will continue to organise these markets to support job seekers and beekeepers to sell their products.”