A beekeeper in Ekiti wearing protective gear inspects honeycombs in a Langstroth hive surrounded by flowering trees.

Bee Farming: Beginner's Guide to Profitable Export Success

Overview

Beekeeping (Apiculture) is the management of honeybee colonies for honey and related products, a practice dating back over 10,000years. Bee farming is a significant agricultural practice in Nigeria and Africa, yet it remains an untapped goldmine. There are varieties of products from beekeeping: wax, royal jelly, bee venom and propolis. According to the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, the Apiculture sector is approximately N36.8billion. 

According to Statista.com, in 2019, there were about 90 million beehives in the world, up from about 80 million beehives in 2010. The global production volume of honey peaked in 2015 at about 1.87 million metric tons and has since decreased to about 1.85 million metric tons. In 2020, analysts valued the global honey market at around eight billion U.S. dollars.

Ekiti State is richly blessed with lush forests, abundant flowering plants, and a favourable climate, making it a natural home for beekeeping. Known for its purity and organic taste, honey from Ekiti is already gaining attention in both local and foreign markets.

With minimal land requirements and low startup costs, honey production is one of the most rewarding agricultural businesses in Nigeria today. From bee farming to bottling and export, this guide walks you through every step to turn nature's sweetness into a steady income.

In this article, you’ll find step-by-step instructions on how to start a honey farming business in Ekiti State, how to manage bees safely, how to process and package honey for export, and how to begin small and grow into a sustainable business that meets international export standards.

Step 1: Site Selection and Bee Hive Setup

Choose a quiet location with plenty of flowering plants and trees, away from noise and pollution. Bees thrive in calm, undisturbed areas.

Build or buy Langstroth hives, the most popular type used for modern beekeeping—place hives at least 50 meters from houses or busy roads. Ensure there is clean water nearby, as bees need water for cooling and honey production.

Step 2: Attracting and Installing Bee Colonies

Beeskeepers can attract bees naturally by placing beeswax or honeycomb inside the hive. You can also purchase a bee colony nucleus(starter colony) from a registered beekeeper.

Install the colony early in the morning or late in the evening when bees are calm. Always wear protective clothing: gloves, a face net, and a coverall, to avoid stings.

There are different species of honey bees worldwide, and seven basic types of beehives, namely 

• Skeps

• Langstroth

• Top-bar

• Box 

• Log gums 

• D.E. hives

• Miller hives. 

For more on beekeeping, see FAO’s good beekeeping practices PDF. Modern bekeeping training is provided by FAO in partnership with South-South Cooperation in Agriculture, utilising Chinese technology. 

A close-up collage showing two types of beehives, on the left, a traditional dome-shaped straw beehive used in ancient times, and on the right, a modern rectangular wooden Langstroth hive with removable frames used for commercial honey production.

Step 3: Feeding and Hive Maintenance

Bees collect nectar from flowers, but during dry seasons, you may need to feed them sugar syrup.

Sugar syrup: (1 part sugar, 1 part water).

Check hives regularly for pests like wax moths or ants. Keep the hive clean and shaded. Never use harmful chemicals near your apiary, as they can kill the bees or contaminate the honey.

Step 4: Harvesting Honey

Honey is ready for harvest when beekeepers have sealed most of the honeycomb cells with wax. Typically, it takes 2-3 months after installation.

Use a bee smoker to calm the bees before harvesting. Remove the honeycombs gently and place them in a clean container. Extract the honey using a manual or electric extractor. Avoid heating, as this destroys nutrients and aroma.

Step 5: Know the Economics 

Cost and Profit Breakdown

Let's take a closer look at the costs of running a beekeeping farm in Ekiti and its potential returns.

Estimated Cost and ROI

Note: The following are subject to change due to market factors.

Cash Flow from Bee Farming Within the First Three Years

Our focus is on 10 hives. For the first year of installation, let’s assume only Bees occupied and lived in only six hives, "meaning it attracts bees and they live in". Within six months, we should expect the first harvest.

 

We base this estimate on the average sales you can expect from your bee farm if you decide to sell at N4,000 for retail. However, honey currently sells between N3,500 and N5,000 for retail.

Within two years of investment, you should recover your money if you keep a tab of every cash inflow and cash outflow.

Farmer’s Testimonial: As a beginner, you don’t have to start with 10 hives at once. When I started my farm in 2018, I began with just two hives and gradually expanded them. The funniest part was that I never owned land when I started; I installed my first set of hives on borrowed land until I was able to buy mine after 2 years in the business.

Step 6: Filtering and Packaging

After extraction, filter the honey through a fine sieve or muslin cloth to remove wax and impurities.

Pour the pure honey into sterilised glass or food-grade plastic bottles. Label the bottles with your farm name, production date, and batch number.

Ensure packaging meets export standards and shows that the product is 100% natural, free from additives or artificial sugar.

Note: Store honey at room temperature in a cool, dry place. 

A local cooperative arranges bottles of pure Ekiti honey for export.

Step 7: Certification and Export Preparation

• Before exporting, begin by registering your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

• Obtain an Exporter’s Certificate from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

• Get a Phyto-Sanitary Certificate from the Federal Department of Agriculture and Food Safety.

• Comply with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC requirements for quality and safety.

• Connect with buyers via trade fairs or export platforms.

Platforms such as the Bank of Industry (BOI) Export Support Program offer new exporters training, financing, and access to buyers.

Buyers in Europe, Canada, and the Middle East often request a Certificate of Origin and a lab analysis report showing purity and moisture level (usually below 18%).

Proper documentation builds buyer trust and ensures smooth export clearance.

Step 8: Exporting and Market Opportunities

Nigeria exports honey mainly to the UK, UAE, USA, and Germany. You can start by supplying local supermarkets, hotels, and wellness stores before expanding internationally.

Partner with export agents or cooperatives who can combine your product with other honey batches for bulk shipping.

Beekeepers who produce consistent quality can earn up to ₦ 3 million and ₦5 million yearly through local and export sales.

Step 9: Real-World Success Story

The Ekiti State Agricultural Credit Agency (ESACA) scheme in Nigeria started in 2019 with just 15 members. By 2024, the cooperative had exported over 3,000 litres of organic honey to Dubai and earned national recognition for maintaining export standards.

Through proper training and collective marketing, the cooperative helped rural farmers turn honey into sustainable income, proving that small farms can compete globally.

Join the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative Organisation (NACO), All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), the Beekeeping Extension Society (BES) or the Federation of Beekeepers Association of Nigeria (FEBKAN) to access export training, modern hive equipment, and funding opportunities.

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