Why Nepali Companies Are Still Importing Foreign Honey?

The Government of Nepal, which had halted the import of honey in April 2024 upon requests from beekeepers, recently granted import approval for 125 metric tonnes of honey to Dabur Nepal and 40 metric tonnes to Patanjali Nepal.

Officials clarified that the government has not fully opened honey imports but has instead allowed imports only to fulfil the remaining quota from the previous fiscal year, based on domestic production levels and the requirements of industries.

Although Nepal produces sufficient honey, large companies that require consistent volumes continue to rely on foreign honey. Stakeholders say the main issue is the inability to ensure domestic supply that meets the quality standards required by the industries.

A senior official at Dabur Nepal said many Nepali producers are unable to supply honey that meets the quality requirement of the company. He said the company was forced to import honey due to concerns over inconsistent quality.

“Our products must meet international standards. To maintain those standards, we have had to import honey,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed last month that it authorised Dabur Nepal to import 125 metric tonnes of honey and Patanjali Ayurveda Nepal to import 40 metric tonnes.

Dabur Nepal has also agreed to purchase 10 metric tonnes of honey from domestic producers, Secretary Govinda Prasad Sharma earlier told New Business Age although the company had previously committed to purchasing 100 metric tonnes of locally produced honey.

Farmers supplied only 60 metric tonnes to the company as they received higher prices elsewhere, Nepal Beekeepers’ Federation President Subash Chandra Ghimire said.

According to him, Nepali farmers are unable to provide the quantity demanded by multinational companies, forcing the government to issue import permits. Tirtha Kumar Shrestha, head of the Apiculture Development Centre, said Nepal’s honey production fluctuates significantly every year, making it difficult to ensure consistent supply for large industries.

“Big companies need steady annual supply in large quantities. But because production is scattered among small farmers, maintaining consistent supply is difficult,” he said. “The volume of honey changes depending on winter, rainfall and sun cycles. Traditional beekeeping practices, unorganised collection methods, and unstable supply push large companies toward foreign honey.”

He said Nepal mainly produces two types of honey based on bee species. “Honey from the local Apis cerana and the Melifera species is found in the market. Cerana honey sells easily—companies like Dabur and Patanjali buy it readily. It sells for Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per kg,” he said. “Chyuri honey from Melifera bees also has no market problems. But mustard honey faces issues because it crystallises quickly.”

Since Nepali consumers tend to avoid crystallised honey, companies do not prefer to buy mustard honey, he added. Imported honey, however, undergoes high-tech processing and does not crystallise easily.

Ghimire said high production costs in Nepal also compel large companies to import honey.

He explained that because honey production is scattered across many small farms, processing becomes expensive. In countries like India, China and Brazil, honey is processed in large volumes at industrial scale, reducing per-litre costs significantly. Commercially, companies prioritise reducing costs, making cheaper imported honey more attractive.

Last year, nearly 3,200 metric tonnes of honey produced by Nepali farmers went unsold because domestic honey could not compete with cheaper foreign honey. Under pressure from beekeepers, the ministry had suspended import approvals at the time. Nepali industries typically import honey from India and New Zealand, among other countries.

According to the Federation of Nepal Beekeepers, Nepal produces around 5,000 metric tonnes of honey annually, while the domestic demand stands at about 8,000 metric tonnes. Despite production falling short of demand by around 3,000 metric tonnes, beekeepers still struggle to sell their honey. The federation says beekeeping is practiced in 42 districts, with about 13,800 farmers involved.