Côte d’Ivoire seeks to unlock untapped potential of its beekeeping sector

Côte d’Ivoire is seeking to develop its beekeeping industry as part of efforts to diversify agricultural incomes, increase local processing and create new export opportunities, officials said at a sector review in Abidjan.

Laure Tchikaya, technical adviser to the minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, said on Sept. 29 that beekeeping could become an additional driver of diversification in the agricultural economy.

She was speaking at a workshop organised by the National Export Council (CNE) to present the findings of a study on the export potential of Côte d’Ivoire's beekeeping sector.

The study, conducted among beekeepers in six regions Bélier, Béré, Bagoué, Worodougou, Hambol and Iffou identified a significant gap between the sector's existing production capacity and its theoretical potential.

According to the study's findings presented by the CNE, effective production capacity accumulated over a three-year period reached 391 tonnes, compared with a theoretical national potential of more than 2,600 tonnes.

The utilisation rate of productive capacity nevertheless increased from 11.9% in 2023 to 29% in 2025, indicating that production has expanded while a large portion of available capacity remains unused.

For Tchikaya, the challenge is therefore not simply to produce more honey, but to turn underused production capacity into a structured value chain capable of generating higher incomes, employment and local value added.

She pointed to persistent constraints including access to equipment and financing, professionalisation of producers, producer organisation, processing and marketing.

The government sees opportunities beyond the production and sale of honey.

Wax, propolis, royal jelly and other hive products could support small-scale processing businesses and create opportunities in sectors such as food processing, cosmetics and traditional medicine.

Kouamé Kouassi, representing the CNE's secretary-general, also highlighted potential activities linked to beekeeping, including packaging, agro-processing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, beekeeping equipment, services, training and research and development.

The CNE's stated priorities for the sector include increasing production and quality, expanding local processing, improving commercial intelligence and strengthening access to finance.

The study also points to the limited international presence of Ivorian honey. According to the CNE, no volume of Ivorian honey was exported to the European Union between 2007 and 2025.

The findings are intended to help identify the conditions needed to professionalise the sector and improve its ability to access domestic, regional and international markets.

The CNE said its objective is to translate the study's recommendations into priority actions that are measurable and achievable, with a focus on quality, production, local processing and financing.

Tchikaya said the development of beekeeping was consistent with Côte d’Ivoire's broader objectives of agricultural diversification, economic inclusion and development of local value chains.

The sector's expansion could also provide opportunities for women and young people, while creating additional rural income streams and supporting small processing enterprises.

For Côte d’Ivoire, the figures presented by the study point to a sector with substantial room for expansion, but also underline the need for investment, organisation and processing capacity before that potential can translate into a larger domestic and export industry.