Kyrgyz honey became a global brand and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the best in the world for its taste and other important qualities. However, beekeeping in the country is currently not experiencing its best times and is trying to reach its former production volumes.

When Kyrgyzstan was a part of the Soviet Union, it ranked third after Russia and Ukraine in respect to the amount of honey harvested. The republic had almost 500,000 bee colonies. Annual output reached 12 thousand tons and the honey was exported abroad.

Today, the figures are more modest. In 2020, the country exported only 490 tons of honey which was worth $1.7 million.

"It is very difficult to export due to requirements to have special certificates and documents. We could sell to neighboring countries, but they also produce their honey," – says Meerim Mametova, Export and Foreign Relations Manager at Alaiku Organics in Osh.

The foremost issue in exporting honey is finding regular sales markets, as large buyers require stable supplies in the appropriate quantities and compliance with all modern standards. And to do so, it is necessary to establish a full production cycle, which in turn requires large investments, special knowledge and skills.

"The final product is even more important than the raw material. It is necessary to organize packing, develop a design, and print a label to give the product a “market” appearance in general," – notes Mametova. Her company is one of the few that have been able to establish the entire cycle of honey processing and production.

"Alaiku Organics" achieved prominence all over the country for its "Kurut" drink. However, the company has a wide range of products, including dairy products, national and refreshing drinks, and even beer. Today Alaiku Organics is a huge company with well-equipped production workshops. It is based on the outskirts of Osh.

In 2019, the company launched a honey production line, for which it contracted with 200 certified beekeepers throughout the Osh region. UNDP, with financial support of the Russian Federation, helped to purchase necessary modern equipment as part of its "Integrated Development of Osh region" project. Thus, "Alaiku Organics" established an entire chain: beekeepers – honey packing shops – sales.

"The capacity of the shop is 500 kg per day, but so far the production volume is lower because we only work on the domestic market. We are currently working on obtaining HACCP and ISO certificates, after which we will start to export," – shares Meerim Mametova, the manager of external relations and export of "Alaiku Organics".

New product – new prospects

Modern equipment allows us to experiment with production. Specialists of the company tried to mix regular honey with melted butter, a process known as "sari mai". The results surpassed all expectations. Therefore, Alaiku Organics began to produce its unique product, Balmai, which can already be found on the shelves of supermarkets and brand stores.

The opening the manufacturing shop created five jobs, three of which are occupied by women.  Additionally, more than 200 beekeepers have found regular customers. The company's next step will be to obtain international certificates to export its products.

Despite the lack of state support and still relatively small production volumes, Kyrgyz beekeepers are optimistic. In the first five months of the year 2021, honey exports increased by almost 43% compared to the same period last year. The country exported 221 tons of honey for a total of 76 million KGS.

In Kyrgyzstan, there are all the right conditions for beekeeping to actively develop and not only to regain its former position, but to also become one of the leading drivers of the agricultural industry. This chance should not be missed, especially considering the growing popularity of this product in the world market.