Lack of storage facilities puts pressure on beekeepers in Kerala
The beekeepers in Kerala are struggling to make ends meet due to the lack of proper storage facilities. Farmers across the state are left grappling with excess honey, as institutions like Horticorp have limited storage capacities. As a result, large quantities of honey are stored in warehouses on farms.
Currently, the only facility available for honey storage is the Mavelikkara Horticorp honey processing centre in Alappuzha, which can store and process up to 35 tonnes of honey. However, this is only half of the state's total honey production. Honey was procured this year at a rate of Rs 190 per kilogram, but with limited storage space, farmers are left to find space to store their honey.
The Chenkal Grama Panchayat in the Thiruvananthapuram district is the state’s largest honey-producing region, home to around 200 beekeepers. On average, a beekeeper managing 100 beehives can harvest approximately one tonne of honey annually. However, Mavelikkara Horticorp’s current policy limits procurement to a maximum of 500 kgs from each farmer.
Farmers facing mounting losses
Kalappurakkal Baby, a prominent honey producer from Chembukadavu in Kozhikode district, has stored around 20 tonnes of honey in his home due to the lack of available buyers. Out of the 28 tonnes of honey produced from his 2,800 beehive boxes, only eight tonnes were sold. The remaining honey is stored in three large tanks at his residence.
Baby revealed that the cost of producing one kilogram of honey stands at Rs 90. With the current storage and procurement challenges, he faces a potential loss of Rs 18 lakh if the situation remains unresolved.
Industry experts have identified several challenges in procuring locally produced honey in the state. Significant financial support is required to store honey in large quantities, but with the government pulling back on financial assistance, the situation has worsened. A Mavelikkara Horticorp official noted that the issue has been exacerbated by large companies dominating the honey market, leaving local producers at a disadvantage.
