Menyamya farmer wants PNG to find honey’s sweet spot

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
Honey can be used to produce different types of products which can benefit many people, a farmer from remote Menyamya in Morobe says.
Menyamya Honey technical specialist David Asi said when there was quality honey, nothing was left to waste and could be used in production of soaps, candles and polish among other things.
“People do not realise that honey is equally important as other cash crops like coffee and cocoa that are being exported,” Asi said.
“It is organic and is a healthy product that everyone can use.
“It lasts longer, for two to three years and can be used as a coating to preserve other food.”
Asi said taking care of bees was not a hard job, with the minimum labour being to keep the hive box clean to allow production of honey.
“The bees are important to other plants and the environment,” he said.
“They help plants to flower and bear fruit. By taking care of bees to produce honey, we are also taking care of the natural environment around us.”
Asi said Menyamya Honey was started in the 1980s by an expatriate man who was living in Menyamya.
“It was formally established into local production some years ago,” he said.
“However, due to lack of funding, the business disbanded.
“We revived it last year and we currently make products from only 30 beehive boxes.
“The company had 300 beehive boxes before being disbanded.”
Asi said they needed support to get Menyamy Honey into the market and create revenue for Morobe and the country.
“We need funding to maintain existing infrastructure such as beehive boxes and foundations,” he said.
“Once we get these two things up and running, we will be able to produce on a larger scale.”
Asi said the business had its own product called ‘honey popcorn’, which is basically popcorn with honey coating.