[3] Prior to 2004 when honey gathering in Mondulkiri reached a commercial scale, it was almost exclusively collected for personal use (either household consumption or traditional medicine).
Nowadays, the regional demand for Mondulkiri wild honey has increased dramatically and it has grown into a well-established industry with numerous intermediaries and other stakeholders.
[2] On 29 January 2021, Mondulkiri wild honey was granted a domestic Protected Geographical Indication by the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia.
The certification ceremony was originally planned on 6 April 2021 but was cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Cambodia[4] and eventually took place on 26 March 2022.
During wet season it is rarely collected due to low demand of such honey because of its high water content and no value in traditional medicine.
This practice has been preserved in some communities, mainly the ones still living in areas with significant forest cover (such as the Srae Y), while in others (such as Trapaeng Khaerm) there have been reports of opportunistic honey collectors harvesting from nests marked by others.
MFV purchases honey in April and May for an annually negotiated price and conducts quality control and produce traceability.