The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has initiated a research study to draft a “Roadmap for Honeybee Cluster Development” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The initiative is part of Pakistan’s 10-year plan for the honey sector, aiming to evaluate the sector’s performance in terms of market trends, trade volume, and competitiveness,” said Rashid Aman, SMEDA KP chief.

He told reporters that the study would be completed within six months and propose actionable policy recommendations and necessary interventions by the government and donor agencies to boost the sector’s growth.

To ensure stakeholder participation, SMEDA recently organized a meeting to discuss challenges faced by farmers, honey traders, and exporters, as well as to gather input for the policy draft.

Currently, the honeybee sector in Pakistan supports around 10,000 beekeepers and provides direct employment to approximately 600,000 individuals across the value chain, according to Rashid Aman.

He emphasized that the sector holds immense potential for expansion both nationally and internationally, provided it receives adequate support and guidance from relevant authorities.The meeting was attended by stakeholders, including President of Beekeepers KP Naeem Qasmi, Jehanzeb Afridi, and Abdul Rehman.

Several proposals were put forward, including providing support to honey exporters for participation in international exhibitions.Training beekeepers in value addition to diversify product offerings, such as propolis, pollen, beeswax, bee venom, and royal jelly, while establishing market linkages.

It is believed that encouraging the plantation of honey-flora-rich tree species like sumra, talha, keekar, and manuka shrubs in potential areas will boost high-value honey production.Participants highlighted significant challenges, such as the continuous decline in flora, underscoring the urgent need for forest conservation and nationwide plantation drives. They recommended introducing interest-free loans to help beekeepers expand their operations.

Additionally, the issue of cross-border movement for Afghan national beekeepers was raised, with participants urging the issuance of business visas to mitigate their problems.Another key proposal was the establishment of an internationally accredited honey testing laboratory to enhance export potential and curb the domestic sale of synthetic honey.

Farukh Amil, the chairperson of the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan, addressed the importance of IPO certification in boosting the credibility and promotion of honey products.

He shared success stories from developed countries, encouraging local beekeepers and traders to capitalize on this promising initiative.Rashid Aman reiterated SMEDA’s commitment to developing the country’s potential business sectors. He expected that the Honeybee Cluster Roadmap would contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the country. “The research and subsequent roadmap will play a pivotal role in fostering growth and innovation in the honey industry, making it a key contributor to Pakistan’s economy,” he hoped.