Analytical Study of Honey Production, Marketing and Market in Russia and Belgorod Oblast

The aim of the study implies the research of production, distribution and market in Russia and in Belgorod Region in order to elaborate the concept of beekeeping development in Russia. The methodological basis includes the provisions of economics, management and marketing theories. The research was founded on the statistical data of beekeeping development in Russia and Belgorod Region. General methods of dialectics, analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, abstracting, analogy, etc. were used as ways of the research. While conducting the research, the systematic approach was applied as well. The article considers the significance of beekeeping as one of the promising economic sectors, studies the dynamics of honey production in Russia and singles out the regions that are reputed to be the main honey producers in Russia. The article adduces the structure of honey production of larger groups of producers – domestic households and peasant household (homestead) farms. It was found that the territories constituting Privolzhsky, Central, Southern and Siberian Federal Districts of Russia are the main regions that produce honey. The trend of honey export from Russia is positive. The average prices for natural bee honey among regions of Russia were studied. The results of price politics’ study indicate that the priority areas of honey distribution beyond the borders of Belgorod Region include Moscow and Tyumen Regions, definite districts of the Far East Federal District, the Republic of Dagestan and Chechnya. It was found that the main current producers in Belgorod Region are private households. Rovensky District, Stary Oskol city community, Ivnyansky, Novy Oskol and Alekseevsky Districts of Belgorod Region are among five leaders in bee colonies availability and honey production. It is submitted that Belgorod Region’s level of specific weight of marketable honey distribution is high. The research indicates one of the problems of beekeeping development in Belgorod region, which implies the inability of Belgorod producers to realize their quality products both in the region itself and beyond its borders as wholesalers from the capital offer honey for a lower price. In this respect, according to the authors’ opinion, it is necessary to explore special ways of distribution and sales stimulation, to increase the assortment of beekeeping products by improving the formulations of honey products and to find new promising honey and beekeeping products’ marketing channels beyond the borders of Belgorod Region. The article settles the necessity to reorient honey and apiculture product production and distribution from mainly spontaneous market to the regulated one. Its obligatory condition should comprise the combination of governmental support and the worldwide development of cooperation and integration at all stages of technological chain from the producer to the consumer. In the current context in order to rise the efficiency of beekeeping sector, it is essential to elaborate the development concept of honey production and distribution that could contribute both to honey and bee products’ diversity increase and to their marketing channels’ enhancement.