Iran is home to a robust beekeeping industry, employing over 155,000 people across the country, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

This workforce is spread across nearly 95,000 apiaries, Mohammad-Ebrahim Hassan-Nejad, the deputy minister for livestock products affairs, said.

The nation has solidified its position as a global honey powerhouse, ranking as the world’s third-largest producer, as per UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data.

To further elevate Iran’s honey production, officials are setting ambitious targets. The government aims to boost honey output by three to four kilograms per bee colony, in line with the Seventh National Development Plan.

Beyond honey, the industry also yields substantial quantities of other bee products, including royal jelly, pollen, beeswax, propolis, and bee venom.