Kurdistan Region 2026 Honey Production Surpasses 1,000 Tons
At a Glance
- The Kurdistan Region’s honey production has exceeded 1,000 tons this year.
- Output has more than doubled from 400 tons in 2025.
- The finest grade of honey sells for 50,000 Iraqi dinars per kilogram.
- Around 15,000 beekeepers operate across the region.
Honey production in the Kurdistan Region has surpassed 1,000 tons this year, more than doubling the 400 tons recorded in 2025, according to Arif Sherwani, head of the Kurdistan Beekeepers Network.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Arif Sherwani, Kurdistan Beekeepers Network: "This year was exceptionally favorable for honey production in Kurdistan. After compiling data from beekeepers across governorates and independent administrations, it is clear that this year's production has surpassed 1,000 tons."
- Harvest season: The usual honey harvesting period runs from August through the end of September, but some beekeepers have yet to finish collecting this year’s yield.
- Honey prices: Prices range from 25,000 to 50,000 Iraqi dinars per kilogram, depending on the grade and production method.
Production Rises Sharply
Kurdistan’s honey output was 400 tons in 2025, according to Sherwani. He told Channel8 that favorable conditions this year contributed to the strong harvest, with production figures compiled from beekeepers across the region’s governorates and independent administrations.
Ministry Restricts Honey Imports
The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Agriculture imposes a ban on honey imports during the peak harvesting season to support local producers.
However, Sherwani said enforcement had not been fully effective and that imported honey entering the region was often of inferior quality.
Some locally produced honey is also transported to other Iraqi provinces, according to the beekeepers network head.
Prices Vary by Production Method
The price of Kurdistan honey depends on its grade and how beekeepers produce it:
- Grade 1: 50,000 Iraqi dinars per kilogram. This category refers to honeycomb built entirely by bees without human intervention.
- Grade 2: 40,000 Iraqi dinars per kilogram. Beekeepers use human-involved frames but do not provide supplemental sugar feed.
- Grade 3: 25,000 to 30,000 Iraqi dinars per kilogram. Bees receive supplemental feed and forage for sweet food sources within a radius of up to five kilometers.
Beekeeping Across the Region
Around 15,000 beekeepers operate across Kurdistan, according to the figures provided by the network.
The sector includes 8,000 modern hive boxes containing more than 800,000 bee colonies, alongside approximately 3,500 traditional beehives still used for honey production.
FYI
Beekeeping contributes to agricultural production and supports pollination, which benefits crops and wild plants. Honey yields can vary with weather, flowering periods, available forage, and hive management.
The reported production figures reflect the data compiled by the Kurdistan Beekeepers Network. A full breakdown by governorate and independent administration was not provided in the supplied information.
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