HONEY global market statistics reveal that, Nigeria shares less than 3% in the market due to untapped opportunities it has out of a market size reaching over US$8.9 billion in 2022, which is expected to reach US$12.2 billion by 2028.
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dr. Ezra Yakusak, disclosed this at a One-Day Workshop on Global Agricultural Practices in Apiary and Honey Processing for Export Competitiveness, held at Crest Hotel Jos, the Plateau State capital recently.
Represented by the Regional Coordinator of NEPC North-Central Office, Samson A. Idowu, the CEO said, “honey is the natural sweet substance produced by the honeybees from the nectar of plants or from secretions of living parts of plants. It consists of 80% simple sugars (fructose and sucrose) that are readily absorbed by the body.
“Honey has several health benefits which makes it highly sought after among Nigerians. Some health benefits of honey include: being a natural cough syrup; it minimises gastrointestinal disorders such as ulcers; Helps in healing burns and wounds and Prevention of cancers and heart diseases among others.
“The best part of honey farming is that processors benefit both economically as well as health-wise through the consumption of products. The global honey market size reached US$8.9 billion in 2022. The market is expected to reach US$12.2 billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%”, he disclosed.
According to the Chief Executive Officer, “Nigeria out of all these, share is less than 3% or to say the least. The market is untapped. It is in view of the foregoing that today’s event is put together to sensitise the Plateau people about the potential of honey value chain.”
Encouraging farmers on the difficulties they might have had in the course of exportation, Yakusak, said they should first consider the cost analysis that would transfer some of marketing processes on the buyer and could be beneficial to them before embarking on the businesses.
Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Esther N. Pwaspo, represented by the Ministry’s Deputy Director Agric, Mrs. Lami M. Dakop, said, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, was passionate about agriculture and called on participants to take advantage of this opportunity.
Also at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Fidelis Kursuk Daboer, represented by the Director Industry, Mrs. Chundung Chuwang, said honey business has potentials and urged participants to seriously engage themselves in this reach business.
Earlier in his welcome address, the NEPC’s Regional Coordinator, North-Central Office, Samson A. Idowu, represented by the Head Of Department Trade Information, Mrs. Feyisayo Abeleje, said, data developed by the USAID, of beekeeping pollination project could generate over $10 billion from local and international trade in honey as domestic consumption in 2019 which stood at 380, 000 metric tons and it shows how inherent the opportunities in apiculture in Nigeria and Plateau state in could be, hence the need to encourage our farmers.
There were presentations by the Managing Director of Apis Interactive Network Ltd, Mr David Musa, on Global Best Practices in Development and Marketing of the Apiculture Value Chain in Plateau State; ACRO of NAFDAC, Mrs. Rebecca Embuguslube, on over General Over View of Certification of honey for Export Competitiveness; Deputy Manager Loan of Bank Of Agriculture (BOA), John Tunkunda and Plateau State Chairman of Farmers Association of Nigeria, Nde John Wuyep respectively.
