AFRICA EMERGES AS GLOBAL LEADER IN HONEY PRODUCTION GROWTH

Major contributors to the continent’s honey surge include Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, and Tanzania

Africa Beekeeping World’s fastest-growing honey production Rich culture.
Africa Emerges as Global Leader in Honey Production
Africa Emerges as Global Leader in Honey Production


Africa is turning heads in the global beekeeping industry, as the continent recorded the world’s fastest-growing honey production rate in 2023, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Released on World Bee Day (May 20), the report revealed that Africa now produces 223,000 tonnes of honey annually, accounting for 12% of the world’s output. This leap has positioned the continent as a rising giant in the global honey market, with Ethiopia leading the charge as Africa’s top producer and now ranked tenth globally.

Other major contributors to the continent’s honey surge include Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Deputy Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, hailed the unique strength of African bees, emphasizing their resilience.

“African bees have shown remarkable resilience to parasites and pathogens that cause significant losses elsewhere,” he noted.

He further highlighted that African beeswax typically has low pesticide contamination, making the continent’s honey ideal for organic and fair-trade markets a key advantage as demand for sustainable products grows worldwide.

Marking the celebration in Jimma, Ethiopia, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu referred to bees and other pollinators as “silent heroes” of the planet.

“Without them, we could lose up to 8% of global agricultural production worth around $577 billion each year,” he warned.

Since its declaration in 2017 through a UN resolution proposed by Slovenia, World Bee Day has served as a global reminder of the vital role bees play not just in honey production but in sustaining food systems, biodiversity, and environmental health.

With its growing hive of opportunity, Africa may soon be known not just for its rich culture and wildlife but also for being a sweet leader in the global honey economy.

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