Nigeria needs N36bn to boost commercial honey production – Association

The Youth for Agricultural Initiatives (YFAI), a bee farmers’ association, says Nigeria needs about N36 billion investment to boost commercial honey and apiculture production.

The YFAI Director-General, Africa, Mr Niyi Adeyemo, said this in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday in Lagos.

Adeyemo noted that Nigeria was lacking behind in commercial bee and honey production due to paucity of funds among other factors.

“We have not scaled up to the commercial level in honey production. But in terms of awareness, we have done better.

“Commercial production has not been increased because there’s no access to funds.

“Before you see a commercial bank or a potential investor in apiculture, they want to know the finance model and how soon they can get returns from their investors.

“The new Ministry of Livestock Productions are working seriously to bring beekeeping into limelight.

“However, if we can have each state to dedicate like N1 billion to the apiculture sector, the funding is going to have a multi-diversity impact on the sector’s productivity.

“We need like N36 billion investment to boost Apiculture production in Nigeria.

“With that we will be able to start the Queen Bee rearing, where there will be availability of a Queen for anyone to start up a bee farm,” Adeyemo said.

According to him, the funding will aid security in the sector and in turn boost food security across all food value chains.

“There’s a need for us to have what you call a bee estate or bee village. A bee village is a place designated for rearing or bee keeping. There will be heightened security, which will boost the diversity of local food productions.

“The more bees available, the more impact they have on pollination.

“And when you have a good cross pollination, there will be an increase in the quality and quantity of food production and ultimately food security,” he said.

The expert, however, noted that the sector had done well in awareness creation and getting more youth in bee keeping.

“Presently, more people are involved in apiculture including youths. More farms are also embracing commercial beekeeping gradually from the old ways.

“However, in terms of quality, we are scaling up better. People are now aware, people are now conscious of buying the honey from the right people.

“We are carrying out awareness to let people know that there are differences between pure honey and adulterated honey. Nigerians are conscious of what they take now.

“We urge consumers to buy their honey from the real beekeepers because not all suppliers will become beekeepers.

“You should buy from reliable suppliers and approved products as well,” the expert said.