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Values of honey


Honey has value as a food, as a medicine, as a cash crop for both domestic and export markets and as an important part of some cultural traditions.

As a food

Honey is valued everywhere as a sweet and tasty food. At times of food shortage it is a useful carbohydrate source that contains trace elements and adds nutritional diversity to poor diets. Honey often has an important place in traditional food preparation.

As a medicine or tonic

In many parts of the world, honey is used as a medicine or tonic and as a special treat for children. Modern medicine is increasingly using honey for a variety of treatments.

As a cash crop

Fresh local honey is always more highly valued than imported honey. Many beekeepers sell their product directly to consumers. Honey is often used as a barter commodity in villages, especially in remote areas or areas isolated by war or sanctions. Honey is a stable commodity with a long shelf life. If harvested carefully, it will remain wholesome for many years.

FIGURE 10 Honey is a traditional medicine or food in nearly all societies. Here in Uganda, it may be sold in a simple way at village level.

As an export crop

As standards of living rise, honey consumption increases. Most industrialized countries import honey to meet demand. This requirement can provide developing countries with a useful source of foreign exchange from honey exports. The countries with the highest honey exports are Mexico, China and Argentina. Each country has a large beekeeping industry that is an important part of their agricultural economy (see Table 1). All developing countries can export honey if production is in excess of local requirements. Because beekeeping does not use land, production of honey for export need not conflict with growing crops for local consumption.

TABLE 1 World honey production and trade, 1997


Production
(tonnes)

Import
(tonnes)

Value
(US$1 000)

Export
(tonnes)

Value
(US$ 1 000)

Total

1 112 000

317 630

539 820

264 701

453 546

Argentina

65 000

171

336

70 422

108 361

Australia

26 000

30

70

13 287

22 159

Canada

29 000

1 992

3 279

8 408

17 054

China

188 000

2 296

2 393

48 306

69 200

Cuba

6 000

-

-

3 800

5

Ethiopia

31 000

-

-

1

5 000

Germany

12 000

83 295

130 383

13 061

33 406

Kenya

26 000

20

57

1

1

Mexico

54 000

135

246

26 900

41 090

South Africa

1 000

587

707

27

83

UK

3 000

21 223

37 282

904

2 430

USA

90 000

75 950

124 852

4 111

7 858

Sources: FAO Production Yearbook, Vol. 51; FAO Trade Yearbook, Vol. 51.

Note: This table lists only official figures; although exports from African and Asian countries are significant, they are unofficial.

FIGURE 11 Packaged in a more sophisticated way, honey generates income (Viet Nam).

As cultural food

Honey is widely used as a source of sugars for making honey wines and beers. Honey also has a high cultural value: eating honey or using it for anointing are part of many traditional birth, marriage and funeral ceremonies; this cultural connection is evident in the term "honeymoon". In the Masai society of East Africa, honey is used to pay the bride price; in Ethiopia, honey wine is brewed for weddings.


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