In a significant shift from traditional Middle Eastern markets, the first consignment of Sidr honey from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has successfully reached Malaysia. This development is reviving hopes for a boost in the province’s honey harvesting industry in the coming months.
The new market opportunity is expected to invigorate KP’s beekeeping sector, which ranks second in export potential after carpet manufacturing. Despite this potential, growth has stagnated in recent years due to various challenges.
KP produces between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of honey annually, but only a small portion is exported, primarily to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai. Historically, there has been no direct route for exporting honey to Europe, with most Pakistani honey being repackaged in Yemen and sold under Yemeni brands in Europe and the United States.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal hailed the shipment of Sidr honey from Tarnab, KP, to Malaysia as a significant breakthrough. He noted that this achievement could help position Pakistani agricultural products on the global stage.
According to a statement from the commerce ministry, the Pakistani High Commission in Kuala Lumpur played a crucial role in facilitating connections between Malaysian companies and Pakistani honey producers. This development follows a deal struck at the Second International Agriculture and Food Exhibition held in Karachi last August.
The All Pakistan Honeybee Exporters Association reports that KP is the country’s leading honey producer, supporting approximately 60,000 honey farms and employing around 1.6 million people. However, the industry faces significant challenges. The association has urged the government to grant the sector official industry status, which would exempt exporters from certain local taxes and provide access to other incentives.
Experts recommend establishing bee clusters in the province and investing in processing facilities to meet international standards, as Pakistan currently loses billions due to a lack of export-ready facilities. To increase honey exports, stakeholders have proposed forming a honey board that includes the association and the forest department.
