The ManicaPost
Blessing Rwizi : Farming Correspondent
LUCRATIVE honey prices have triggered a huge interest in apiculture among small-scale farmers in Mutasa District.Since June 2015, more than 2 000 apiarists have embarked on beekeeping projects.A beekeeper or apiarist is the farmer who keeps bees in order to collect their honey and other products that the hive produces, including beeswax, propolis, pollen, and royal jelly, to pollinate crops, or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers.
A location where bees are kept is called an apiary or bee yard.
The honey bee extracts honey from its natural surroundings and then converts it into a product that is consumable.
In addition, honey bees help to pollinate the vegetables and fruits in one’s area.
Environmental Management Agency has secured markets for apiarists in Mutasa.
Buyers from Harare are coming to buy at the farmer’s doorstep $3.50 to $4.00 per kg and has helped in cutting transport costs among the farmers.
EMA took 178 villagers from the districts through a three-day extensive beekeeping training programme last week.
Its aim was to ensure a boom in environmental projects around the districts.
Farmers in Ward 18, 19 and 20 are getting off cuts from nearby sawmills for the construction of the beehives and they are making use of the available thick forests for beekeeping. Most farmers are getting a minimum of 19kgs per beehive after every four months.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Enerst Kwengo, of Inyashuti Resettlement in Ward 20, said beekeeping was proving to be very effective in environmental conservation for its fast take-off and financial rewards.
“Beekeeping projects have changed lives of many people in this district at a fast rate.
We are now able to take good care of our families and our environment is always green now. We like to thank sawmills around the area for giving us off cuts to construct the beehives.
“I started beekeeping in December last year and I now have 26 beehives. I am doing my projects together with my brother, Edward Kwengo and we are aiming to have at least 200 bee hives by December this year,” said Mr Kwengo.
Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri last week challenged farmers in Mutasa to make use of the locally available resources to improve their livelihoods.
“There are so many escape routes from drought and poverty. Let us make use of the available resources and change our lives. I urge traditional and local leaders to use their influence to encourage the establishment of community environmental projects throughout Mutasa District.
They should remain the custodians of environmental resources and Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage,” said Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri.
Statistics reveal that Zimbabwe has the potential to producing 500 000 litres of honey a year.
The current honey production levels is estimated at 70 000 from nearly 16 000 bee farmers across the country.
