Value Chains research report Tajikistan final - Microfinance Centre

Domestic market for honey.
The production of honey in Tajikistan is mostly aimed at meeting the needs of the
local consumers at the domestic market. The current demand for honey in Tajikistan is
moderate, in our opinion. Traditionally, honey consumption in Tajikistan is associated
primarily with medicinal purposes, rather than nutritional value, and this explains the low unit
consumption levels.
According to the information on honey prices in the country’s markets, in the last two
years the prices increased by 20% 23 . The price of honey today is varied between 20 and 30
Somoni per kilogram, or $4.20-6.20. However, analysis of supply at the markets has shown
that prices can vary by as much as 100%, depending on the quality and variety of the
product. It is obvious; however, that cost of production does not allow selling any cheaper
than the prices indicated above. It is economically reasonable that higher yield per bee
family means cheaper prices, since higher output means lower fixed cost per unit of product
sold.
Results of research at the domestic market for honey in Tajikistan have shown that
the distribution system for honey and its secondary products is chaotic and random. Each
beekeeper sells his/her product in whatever way they find more comfortable: some sell
directly at the markets, some distribute their honey for consignation, others distribute honey
through acquaintances.
When the local people buy honey for consumption purposes, they look for the
cheapest product. More often than not, cheap honey results from feeding the bees with
sugar syrup, not from processing pollen. Another substitute is fake honey – a mixture of
honey and boiled sugar, which is sold under the name of “artificial honey”, or “shini”.
23 www.agroinform.tj
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