NGOZI, February 27th (ABP) – The price of honey is currently rising at the Ngozi central market. A bottle containing 1.5 litres of honey, which cost 25,000Fbu in the last three months, now costs 30,000Fbu, it was revealed on Friday 21 February 2025 by the ABP.
Retailers and a beekeeper who spoke on the subject pointed to a number of factors to explain the price rise.
The retailers pointed to a decline in the number of beekeepers, which has resulted in low production. They explained that some beekeepers have given up the trade for lack of economic incentive. The beekeeping sector is also being affected by rising prices for other food products on the market, and by fuel shortages that are making basic products more expensive for consumers.
Those retailers added that in the context of rising prices and the shortage of sugar in Burundi, honey is being consumed as a substitute for sugar, which has pushed up its price.
When contacted, a beekeeper from the commune of Mwumba suggested that unfavourable weather conditions were also among the reasons for the low honey production. He said that during the rainy season, there is a reduction in honey production because the hives that are made by hand are sometimes damaged by the rains.
Whether retailers or beekeepers, the only solution to the rising price of honey is to revitalise the sector, so that production can increase.