Turkey Aims for Leadership in Global Honey Production
· GıdaTarım
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced that Turkey ranks second in global honey production with its 9 million hives, and the harvest is expected to reach 100,000 tons.
Turkey Ranks Second in Global Honey Production
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı shared strategic data on the beekeeping sector following a symbolic honey harvest in İnceyol village, Sivas. Yumaklı highlighted that Turkey alone meets 90% of the global pine honey production, emphasizing the sector's international strength. Stating that there are approximately 9 million hives across the country, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made the following statement:
"We are second in the world in honey production, and we continue to strive for the first place. Our beekeeping brethren have put in immense effort and dedication for this. Turkey has approximately 9 million hives. God willing, our honey production will be between 97,000 and 100,000 tons."
Beekeeping Map and New Regulation
Yumaklı stated that new projects have been implemented by the Ministry to ensure more efficient and planned beekeeping activities, and that production areas have been mapped. Touching upon high value-added by-products and bee venom legislation, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı continued his remarks:
"Our Ministry conducted a study on areas particularly suitable for beekeeping and published a map related to it. Therefore, it is possible for our beekeeping brethren to carry out all their production-related activities by considering both their own experiences and this map. Recently, there was no regulation regarding bee venom, although it has become known in our country. We have published the regulation for this. This will be a very important product and a source of income for our country. Turkey has 41 types of honey with geographical indications. Every corner of this beautiful country is actually very suitable for beekeeping with its unique flora, natural beauty, and biodiversity. Zara honey is one of these. Sivas produces a large portion of Turkey's honey production and ranks fourth in this regard. That is, Sivas, and particularly Zara honey, ranks fourth in Turkey in terms of the amount of honey produced."
Geographically Indicated Honeys and Sivas
Yumaklı stated that Turkey's rich flora is crowned with registered products, noting that there are 41 types of honey with geographical indication registration across the country, and underlined the strategic role of local producers in the market.