FG to support bee farmers with 20,000 beehives

In order to lessen importation of honey and support pollination of plant food production, the Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja said it would support bee farmers in the country as it had made provision for 20,000 beehives in this year’s budget to support them.

Bees, apart from enriching the world with honey, also play a vital role in pollination of plants for effective food production.

In this regard, Audu Ogbeh, minister of agriculture and rural development, at the launch of Nigeria Apiculture Platform, said the Federal Government would address key problems facing bee farmers through interaction, while supporting their operations with modern technology and innovation.

“Expand your production, we will find you adequate credit through the Bank of Agriculture to the lower end of the digits, so that you could do your business, give us genuine honey not syrup or the adulterated one.

If Tanzania and other African countries could make $300 million from honey, what are we doing importing so much? The ministry will keep partnering with you, if we fall asleep, wake us up, ensure that you pressure us to assist you grow the honey industry,” Ogbeh said.

Global honey yield is estimated at 1.4 million tons annually, costing about $7 billion, while Nigeria produces only 75 tons annually.

BusinessDay findings reveal that Nigeria does not have bee-testing laboratory, as honey product of the bee is normally sent to Kenya laboratory for proper standardisation.

“Currently, we cannot export to the EU, we normally carry our honey to Kenya, and get it tested for export purposes,” CEO of A Shine Honey Industry and an official of Bee Farmers Association of Nigeria told BusinessDay.

Nigeria currently produces 75 tons of honey annually and cannot meet the country’s annual demand of 2000 metric tons.

He, however, expressed confidence that with the support of the government, and technical partners, the Nigeria bee industry would appreciate significantly.

“USAID for instance came to us, and ask us where are the possible areas they could support us, to double our production. They took a consultant for us and are paying the consultant to prepare a bankable business plan so that they could get a financier, to be able to turn around our production,” he revealed further.