Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 20
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
Annual honey exports of Iran's Ardabil province reach 1.1 trillion rials (roughly $26.1 million) and it's already the third consecutive year that the annual honey production of the province exceeds 5,500 tons, an expert on honey bees of Ardabil Organization of Agriculture Jihad, Dehgan Bagheri said, Trend reports via ISNA.
He noted that the honey production may increase by 20-30 percent,if there is no damage dwindling the number of bees.
There are 1,275 traditional bee hives in Ardabil province, Bagheri said, adding that the hives of the province are mainly located in Khalkhal, Meshginshahr and Ardabil counties.
He noted that 358,000 modern beehives also contribute to the production.
In total, the number of the province's beehives reach 359,451, he said.
On average, traditional hives give 3.05 kilograms of honey, while modern ones give 15.6 kilograms, he said.
Beekeepers also take 200 kilograms of royal jelly, five tons of propolis and three tons of pollen annually from the hives.
There were no exports in the previous year, the expert said, adding that this year there has been exports to the Gulf countries, Iraq, Malaysia, Turkey and some other countries.
