Basil: Support bee industry

 Deputy Opposition leader and Bulolo MP Sam Basil (pictured) has called on the National Government to establish a task force to respond to issues of food security, increased pollination and income opportunities for honey farmers in Eastern Highlands.

Basil, whose questions during grievance debate session in Parliament this week were directed to Agriculture Minister Tommy Tomscoll, had raised concerns about honey production in the country.

The recently appointed Pangu Pati leader said the industry provides honey, jelly wax and propholis, which the ministry should look at and increase the budget to support farmers to go back into the honey market to export into the European market.

Research into domestic production of honey bee commenced in the 1940s at the Moitaka DAL station and by the 1950s was moved into the Highlands, he said.

The industry was founded by PNG and New Zealand government in 1970s to bring it to the level for smallholder farmers to engage in production.

In 1980s to 1990s production increased to 150 tons per annum as the demand for quality honey increased.

“In PNG we have the commodity. So is the government and ministry concerned about to allocate funding to research,” he asked.

He said the Livestock department was now defunct and the agriculture branch has been transferred to Coffee Industry Corporation.

Tomscoll said as it related to the farm at Finito, they had decided to move the bee activities hive to CIC so they could farm the bees with coffee.

“We are stressing to CIC to undertake a business plan for beehive industry.

“The CIC is taking a greater interest and focus so in due course we expect CIC to come to the government with a new business plan.