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Manicaland Correspondent
APICULTURE farmers in Chimanimani are appealing to Government to come to their rescue and re-capacitate them following the destruction of their projects by Cyclone Idai.
According to the Chimanimani District Agritex officer Mr Shupai Majee, thousands of bee hives were destroyed by the devastating cyclone, affecting many families that eked a living from apiculture.
“At least 2 960 bee hives were destroyed, the Kenyan Top Bar hives were the most destroyed (2 099), followed by the ordinary box hives which were about 768,” he said.
“The indigenous hives and Lungstrath were the least destroyed with 76 and 17, respectively, being destroyed.
“More than 100 farmers who were engaged in bee-keeping were affected by Cyclone Idai, and no longer have any source of income.”
Mr Majee said Government intervention was essential because many aid agencies that have been assisting the surviving victims overlooked the apiculture industry and its positive impact on the affected farmers.
“Apicultural industry is being overlooked by the different donors,” he said.
“We have not yet received any assistance in this regard, yet it was a source of livelihood for a number of farmers.
“We have been encouraging farmers to revive the industry by putting up more bee hives, but the farmers still need a lot of assistance.”
Mr Majee said the fact that Bumba Honey Processing Plant was less affected by Cyclone Idai meant the revival of the industry was possible if all the stakeholders pulled in one direction.
“The damage caused by Cyclone Idai to Bumba Honey Centre is not and this is a big plus to apiculture farmers, who can still market their honey at the centre,” said Mr Majee.
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