Description for the General Marketing Situation of the Honeybee Products in Khartoum State of Sudan

Abstract

Aim: Local trade of the honeybee products (honey and beeswax) in Sudan goes back to many centuries and there is increasingly demand for honey and other honeybees-by-products in the markets, in most of the areas of Sudan. Yet, there is few scientific information and database on the marketing of beekeeping products. Moreover, the question of promotion and marketing is very essential and there are no positive actions were taken. The study was carried out in Khartoum state “a major marketing and consumption zone in Sudan” during the years 2012/2013 aiming to generate information about the honeybee products and their marketing, constraints and the local market systems and structure. Study Design: A case study. Materials and Methods: Data were collected through inter¬views with 97 consumers and nineteen shopping places and companies. A structured questionnaire was used and the collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 19, 2012 Microsoft ware computer program. Results: The results indicated that the demand rates of the honeybee products showed a steady tendency; however, only honey has an increasing trend. The annual average sales of honey and beeswax were respectively, 7165 and 451.83kg. The average price for both honey and beeswax were estimated at 58 SDG (Sudanese Pound) per kilogram (equivalent to11.6$/kg). The major marketing constraints that hinder the marketing of honeybee products are: Lack of beekeeping legislations and standards. As well as procedures followed by the governmental offices regarding custom tariffs. Conclusion: The study justified the need for: [i] quality assurance of the bee products, [ii] establishment and activation of beekeeping legislations, [iii] and upraising the public awareness on the honeybee products.