Boost for honeybee farms

By JAMES KILA
HONEY production in Eastern Highlands province is expected to see increase following the presentation of eight brand-new honey extractors (pictured right) to local producers.
Costing about K4,000 each, the extractors were presented to eight established rural honeybee-keeping groups in the province last Tuesday.
Five of the extractors were donated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), one by a Canadian non-government organisation CUSO while two others were jointly donated by Eastern Highlands provincial honeybee coordinator Tela Loie and former CUSO volunteers Peter Hardie and Kathleen Cooper.
National Agriculture and Livestock regional director Mawe Gonapa said Eastern Highlands is leading the country in honey production, and with the extractors, output is set to increase.
Mr Gonapa said with the gadget, farmers in rural areas would be able to add value to their honey produce.
He also encouraged farmers to produce more honey and to package them properly because it is selling at a good price of K8 per kilo.
Eastern Highlands Beekeepers Association chairman Jonah Buka said the extractors would greatly benefit rural honey farmers.
“They (honey producers) would no longer have to bring their honeycombs to town for extraction using buyers’ facility because they could do it right at the farm,” he said.
All they have to do now is put their produce in 20-litre containers and take them to buyers in town.
Mr Buka also spoke strongly against honey imports and encouraged customers to buy local honey instead because “they are organic, disease-free and “very tasty”.
Honey producer Ivan Ano said the extractors would greatly help farmers in rural areas because they will speed up honey production.