Zimpapers Logo

Ellen Chasokela Herald Reporter
Government, in partnership with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), has engaged a consultant to develop the Apiculture Standard Training Manual in Zimbabwe in a bid to boost the beekeeping sector.

Officiating at the Apiculture Standard Manual Validation workshop in Harare recently, Livestock and Veterinary Services Department principal director Dr Unesu Ushewokunze-Obatolu said apiculture was a potential pillar for economic growth through pollination services.

“Our apiculture sector has much potential to drive the economy towards poverty reduction, contribute to food security, employment creation, rural livelihoods, foreign currency earning and the much needed sectorial diversification,” she said.

“The sub-sector offers a window for passive household income and a potential foreign currency earner when commercialised. The country has a long history of beekeeping. However, productivity remains low, leading to low utilisation of beehive products domestically and low export earnings.

“The growth of the apiculture sector has for a long time been compromised by the weak instructional arrangements, weak capacity and coordination and policy-related issues which require reviewing and strengthening. As a result, apiculture’s contribution to livelihood of people has been minimal.’’

Dr Ushewokunze-Obatolu said apiculture was a good investment as it did not require much resources.

“Government recognises the importance of rural communities in generating sustainable incomes for their livelihoods through the apiculture industry which offers one of the best investment options for rural communities and commercial farmers because of its minimal requirements for land, machinery and equipment, labour and capital investment,” she said.

“This potential should be fully exploited. However, the basic knowledge and skills needed to exploit the honey production potential are lacking among technocrats, farmers other inputs suppliers.

“This practice has for long undermined efforts to enforce compliance to code of practices, standard operating procedures, quality and sanitary safety standards in the apiculture industry, hence the need for harmonisation and uniformity.’’

Dr Ushewokunze-Obatolu said Government developed a standard manual to be used by stakeholders within the apiculture industry’s different areas of production, marketing, processing, value addition and disease control.