Big boost for local honey production

Big boost for local honey production

12-August-2016
A group of around 30 beekeepers, who last year followed beekeeping training under an internationally funded project, have received beehives and other beekeeping equipment to boost their activity and subsequently production of local honey.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture through an International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) funded International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) project has received 250 beehives made on internationally recommended specifications and standard to be distributed among the group of beekeepers.
Other equipment like smokers and full body protection gears as well as a foundation extracting machine also formed part of the donation.
The Ifad funded ICIPE project called ‘Alternative Livelihoods for Food and Income Security’ is taking place in several Indian Ocean island countries off the eastern and south-eastern coast of Africa namely Mauritius, Rodrigues, Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles, as well as in Zanzibar (United Republic of Tanzania).
The project aims to contribute to the increase of food and income security of smallholder farmers through introduction of improved beekeeping technologies and pollination services as alternative sources of livelihood and improve crop yields and biodiversity conservation among communities targeted by the Ifad country programmes.
Yesterday morning in a short ceremony at the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) training room the majority of the group of established beekeepers as well as beginners and other interested individuals who followed the training turned up to pick up their hives.
Only a sample of the hives and other equipment were available – the largest part of the batch is to be distributed next week.
Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Wallace Cosgrow, the principal secretary in his ministry Michel Nalletamby, the project coordinator Georges Bibi, the head of the Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (SIAH) Georgie Belmont, as well as other officials of the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) were there to witness the event.
Arthur Toule Thilathier, an established beekeeper, and Catherina Onezia, who has great interest in developing the activity, were the first to be presented with the precious beehives after their names were drawn from a lot.
“At present I have only three beehives at home but with the help of my partner I am really looking forward to have more bees,” Ms Onezia said.
Each of the beekeepers is expected to receive between three and five beehives.
Mr Toule Thilathier, who has been producing local honey for many years now with his own label and bottling facility, said demand for pure local honey has skyrocketed these past years.
“What I produce is nothing compared to the large market demand and people are continuously asking me for more. The potential to develop this sector to its fullest is there waiting to be tapped,” he said.
PS Nalletamby shared his view when he said, “there is a huge market for local honey and the opportunity to develop and expand the activity is there. Seychelles has all it needs for such an activity to flourish with its naturally green vegetation and the competitive advantage of a very healthy environment ideal to be tapped for honey production”.
Mr Nalletamby expressed the hope that with the new beehives and other equipment that beekeepers are receiving will either boost their production or help them make a start.
Before presenting the hives to Ms Onezia and Mr Toule Thilathier, Minister Cosgrow said:
“It is important that the beekeeping activity is given the importance it deserves and this is only a start to what promises to be an activity which can develop and flourish,” Minister Cosgrow said.
He expressed the hope that more people will come on board as the activity develops and generates more public interest.
Minister Cosgrow also highlighted the importance of honey bees for agriculture as they help greatly with pollination.
He concluded by assuring the beekeepers of his ministry’s and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency’s full support and success in their endeavour to set up their ventures.
Gerald Monthy, the beekeeping project liaison officer, said the Seychelles Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture at Anse à la Mouche has been earmarked under the project for the setting up of a honey processing unit where the newly received extracting machine will be installed.
He said beekeepers will bring their hives there to have the honey extracted. They will be informed of all the details about the process in the coming weeks.

Caption:

Mr Toule Thilatier and Ms Onezia receiving their hives from Minister Cosgrow

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