Srinagar, Oct 18: Come autumn and Kashmir’s appetite for honey is insatiable. The official production figures of honey in J&K stood at 3895 metric tonnes in 2025-26. However, the same season that fills the honey jars also exposes the weak links in honey trade – ambiguity regarding purity.
The production data from J&K is encouraging with official figures depicting a 77 percent rise in production for year 2025-26, as compared with the previous year. In 2024-25, honey production was 1460 metric tonnes. J&K is among the top ten honey-producing states and UTs in India. As per the figures presented in Parliament by Union Ministry of Agriculture, 2097 beekeeping entities are registered in J&K. Over 2,17,268 colonies on the MadhuKranti portal of Union Government.
However, it is also unclear how much of the “Kashmir” honey on shelves is actually produced in Kashmir. Nearly 90 percent of Kashmir’s registered beekeepers migrate to warmer parts of India every winter. Honey derives its flavor and characteristics from the flowers that the bees consume. Valley’s acacia honey sells at a higher price, but is it actually acacia-based. However, migration is important for yields. A study has revealed a harvest 50-60 kg higher per colony a year, which is nearly five times what stationary beekeeping yields.
In Kashmir, erratic rain and temperature swings have disrupted the acacia bloom. Some beekeepers have reported losses of up to 90 percent. A short crop with strong demand is the perfect setting for adulteration.
An earlier JKEDI estimate Kashmir’s honey market to be around 770 tonnes. Only about 75 tonnes were processed locally at the time of this study.
Honey testing labs and processing units have been established at Pulwama, Bandipora and Jammu. SKUAST-K received aRs 4-crore grant for three more honey testing labs in Pulwama, Kupwara and Bandipora.
Yet adulteration embitters the sweet taste of honey for consumers. Earlier this year, fake honey made from sugar syrup was seized at multiple locations in Srinagar. Given the vast market, it is unlikely that all the adulterated and fake honey is spotted and seized by J&K FDA.
A 2020 national survey on honey found 10 of 13 brands failed all purity tests. It showed that samples deliberately spiked with up to 50 per cent syrup passed Indian tests. Standard tests can miss modern adulteration, and get a quality certificate.
Kashmir has had no such survey in its markets, even though the results of any such testing must be taken with a pinch of salt, given the new methods being brought into adulteration.
However, doubts tend to paint the entire honey-scape black. A genuine harvest from a genuine producer and a sugar-syrup mix in a recycled jar sit side by side in the same market. This damages the Kashmir name, and keeps consumers guessing about purity.
About The Author
