FBD: India's EXIM Bank: "Sikkim honey has good export potential"

By Sabyasachi Samajdar, FoodBizDaily.com Bureau Chief – New Delhi

September 14, 2009 – Considering that Sikkim, a hill state of India, is home to a wide range of medicinal plants grown in the wild, honey produced in Sikkim has been found to have medicinal properties and at times, rare ingredients. Further, honey produced from high altitude flora is being considered to be of better quality. These factors need to be leveraged upon by the State as its USP,'' according to Export and Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) in its study report 'Sikkim-Export Potential and Prospects' released recently.

EXIM Bank report says that China was by far the largest producer of natural honey with a share of 21.2% of global production of 1438.3 thousand tons while in India, production of honey has remained stagnant at 52,000 tons in post 2000 era.

Estimated figures for 2007 indicated that Chinese production has slipped dramatically from 305000 tons to 6000 tons which has impacted the global production levels negatively and this is an area which the country in general and Sikkim in particular needs to leverage upon so as to cater to the increasing international demand for natural honey, the report says.

The EXIM bank has pointed out Singapore as a good export market for Sikkim considering its proximity.

The report states, ''Bees in Sikkim are reared for production of honey for local consumption and for pollination of orange, passion fruit, beans and mustard crop. The honey is superior medicinally because the bee collects nectar from the rich flora of Sikkim''.

The report further accepts that considering that Sikkim is by and large organic, there is immense potential for its exports especially to the discernible markets of the west where demand for anything organic has been rising at an appreciable rate. Further, these countries would not import honey from countries where the use of pesticides is not regulated and where samples are not specifically tested for insecticidal residues.

The EXIM Bank report says that the export of honey from Sikkim needs to be encouraged in light of their negligible insecticide and pesticide content. Honey industry in the state can well be a major foreign exchange earner if appropriate strategies are adopted.

The strategies recommended by the EXIM Bank to Sikkim government were to establish bee-keeping nurseries for multiplication of colonies along with setting up a composite training cum demonstration unit for rendering training to prospective entrepreneurs.

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(S E Report)

GANGTOK, September 14: The Export Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) has suggested the State government to leverage the medicinal properties of honey produced in Sikkim as its ‘Unique Selling Proposition’.
“Considering that Sikkim is home to a wide range of medicinal plants grown in the wild, honey produced in Sikkim has been found to have medicinal properties and at times, rare ingredients. Further honey produced from high altitude flora is being considered to be of better quality. These factors need to be leveraged upon by the State as its USP,” said the EXIM Bank in its study report ‘Sikkim-Export Potential and Prospects’ released recently.
In its report, the Bank has stated that China was by far the largest producer of natural honey with a share of 21.2 percent of global production of 1438.3 thousand tonnes while in India, production of honey has remained stagnant at 52,000 tonnes in post 2000 era.
Estimated figures for 2007 indicated that Chinese production has slipped dramatically from 305 thousand tones to 6 thousand tones which has impacted the global production levels negatively and this is an area which the country in general and Sikkim in particular needs to leverage upon so as to cater to the increasing international demand for natural honey, the report said.
The EXIM bank has pointed out Singapore as a good export market for Sikkim considering its proximity.
“Bees in Sikkim are reared for production of honey for local consumption and for pollination of orange, passion fruit, beans and mustard crop. The honey is superior medicinally because the bee collects nectar from the rich flora of Sikkim”.
The report further accepts that considering that Sikkim is by and large organic, there is immense potential for its exports especially to the discernible markets of the west where demand for anything organic has been rising at an appreciable rate. Further these countries would not import honey from countries where the use of pesticides is not regulated and where samples are not specifically tested for insecticidal residues, the report mentioned.
Highlight allied factors in the global honey market, the EXIM Bank strongly stated that the export of honey from Sikkim needs to be encouraged in light of their negligible insecticide and pesticide content. Honey industry in the State can well be a major foreign exchange earner if appropriate strategies are adopted, the bank said.
The strategies recommended by the EXIM Bank to Sikkim government were to establish bee-keeping nurseries for multiplication of colonies along with setting up a composite training cum demonstration unit for rendering training to prospective entrepreneurs.
The State government has also been suggested to endeavour to get a Fairtrade certification to facilitate better pricing and global recognition