adminLackson Munkombwe
THE Forestry Commission has set sights at encouraging communities in Binga district to engage in apiculture so as to improve their livelihoods by utilising income generated from the honey production projects.
Forestry Commission’s district manager, Mr Nyawayi Tigere said the organisation was working at facilitating beekeeping projects throughout the district as part of its efforts to curb rampant deforestation.
“Bees thrive well in areas where there is vegetation and water. Therefore, people should understand the importance of keeping vegetation alive and the role bees play in pollination and survival of plant species,” he said.
Sustainable utilisation of vegetation is of paramount importance in beekeeping as the apiarist (bee keeper) is likely to be guaranteed of nectar and pollen plants in the vicinity of his apiary (bee yard) for successful honey production.
“Honey is an ecological and technical appropriate form of income generating in some of the poorest areas of Zimbabwe, hence as a district we should prioritise the venture so as to improve our communities’ standards of living through harnessing this product,” said Mr Tigere.
As part of its pilot project, Forestry Commission enacted 25 beehives in Saba village. Mr Tigere said communities are likely to realise immense benefits from the beekeeping projects if the enterprises are embarked on at a larger scale.
“Honey is a food that contains fructose, glucose, sucrose, mineral water and other undetermined substances and is an ingredient in making medicine, clear soap, wineries and it’s a very reliable cough syrup. If people take this project seriously, they will be assured of eking a better living,” he said.
Mr Tigere said Forestry Commission would embark on an extensive bee-keeping training programme mostly targeting areas with readily available water sources as the resource was essential for the project to thrive.
“Our aim is to teach a substantial number of people that will go on to impart the knowledge and skills to others so as to ensure the sustainability of the project in the district,” Mr Tigere said.
Forestry Commission public relations manager, Miss Violet Makota, said the organisation was embarking on beekeeping training programmes mainly to persuade communities to value and conserve vegetation.
“We train villagers about bee keeping and teach them on forest conversation. If villagers understand the importance of beekeeping, then they will prevent the forest from fires and participate in tree planting activities,” said Mrs Makota.
Bee farming is a venture that requires very small pieces of land and farmers do not have to be financially stable in order to be successful bee keepers. Statistics reveal that Zimbabwe has the potential to producing 500 000 litres of honey per year. The current honey production levels is estimated at 70 000 from nearly 16 000 bee farmers across the country.
Bongani Ndlovu