TEHRAN- As revealed by a provincial authorities, 85 percent of honey produced in Ardebil province, in the northwest of Iran, is exported to other provinces and neighboring countries.Nader Taqizadeh, the head of the provinces Agriculture Department, said that production according to climate conditions, variety of pastures and plant species have actually developed a chance for Ardebil to shine in the honey market in the nation and even in the world.He mentioned the production of 9,000 tons of high-quality honey under the Sabalan brand in this province and stated: This quantity of production is 9 times the annual usage of Ardebil province, and only 15 percent of this item fulfills the requirements of individuals of the province and 85 percent goes to other provinces and neighboring countries.
The main advised of the range of exports with different product packaging and brand names and said: Sabalan honey is exported in 20 kinds of packaging with superior quality to neighboring countries, particularly the Persian Gulf littoral states, where many consumers wish to purchase this kind of honey.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Taqizadeh stated that there are more than 522,000 bee nests in this province, and 70 percent of beekeepers attempt to offer their products with correct warranty by transferring to the hot regions in the winter seasons of the year.Based on the data recently launched by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Iran is the third-largest manufacturer of honey in the world.MA/ MA