100-plus farmers in bee farming

By MEMO HAUKE
MORE than 100 farmers are involved in bee hive farming in Eastern Highlands, according to Mountain Honey Company general manager Kelly Inae.
Inae said the farmers were from Kama-Apoga village. The company owns three hectares of bee hive farm just outside Goroka town.
Mountain Honey is the second largest honey producer in PNG producing raw honey.
“Being in the industry for over 10 years and wanting to share my skills with the local people, I decided to conduct a training programme called the Helping Hand Support for the local farmers,” he said.
“In partnership with the Oxfam in PNG and through the Helping Hand Support programme, we have trained over 1400 bee hive farmers right in the Highlands region.”
Oxfam in PNG is a non-government organisation which is part of a global movement of people fighting poverty and injustice.
“The company decided to partner with Oxfam for the training to give back to its people,” he said.
“I wanted the local farmers to learn the basics of beekeeping and earn something for themselves through that business.
“We are a supplier chain for shops in Goroka including the Bintango shop, Goroka Food Mart, Lutheran Guest House.”