Alternative Marketing Strategies for Honey and Other Bee Products in Turkey

ABSTRACT

Turkey is the fourth leading honey producing country in the world after China, the United States, and Argentina, with around 5.35% of the market. One of the most important problems facing the Turkish beekeeping sector is marketing. In general, the market structure for animal products in Turkey has a confusing chain, which causes great differences between producer and consumer prices. Beekeepers have several alternatives for marketing their honey in Turkey: they may sell directly to consumers (in local markets or roadside stands), to a honey cooperative, to a wholesaler, to a honey packer or dealer, and/or to the export market. This study examines the marketing channels for honey and other bee products in Turkey, discusses the problems and defects of the current system from the perspective of producers and other actors in the market, and suggests solutions that include an increased role for cooperatives and extension services.