Association: Azerbaijan to increase honey production at expense of liberated territories

This year, an increase in honey production in Azerbaijan is expected, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Beekeepers Association Badraddin Hasratov told Report.

He noted that the increase in honey production in the country will occur at the expense of the liberated territories: “Last year, 4,068 bee colonies were moved to the summer pastures of the liberated territories. This year this figure will be higher. There are a large number of applications for the resettlement of bee colonies in Karabakh. This year we expect an increase in honey production by 2-3 tons. There are favorable places for beekeeping in Kalbajar and Lachin districts.”

Hasratov also spoke about the existing problems in the export of honey: “The country’s demand for honey is 5,000 tons. In 2021, about 7,000 tons of honey were produced in the country, and the export volume was insignificant. Considering that this year it is planned to increase production, it will be possible to export more. We have received several orders from the countries of the European Union. However, we cannot export our products to Europe, because they don’t buy animal products from Azerbaijan. In this direction, the Food Safety Agency several times held discussions with the EU, but this issue has not been resolved yet.”

The number of bee colonies in Azerbaijan has exceeded 500,000.