BY BANELE MAGONGO
MBABANE– Local farmers urged to explore the lucrative opportunities in beekeeping, which has the potential to produce over 35 tonnes of honey per year.
This was said by Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary (PS), Sydney Simelane at the Eswatini inaugural Apiculture for Forest Ecosystems Conservation and Restoration Symposium, he spoke on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka at Happy Valley in Ezulwini on day one of the on going symposium which will run from 26 -28 March.
He stated that beekeeping played an integral role in nurturing and healing the country’s forest ecosystems. Stakeholders gathered to discuss the benefits of apiculture and how to best support and promote the industry.
PS Simelane commended the CCARDESA and the stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the symposium. He emphasised the need for environmental health in order to sustain apiculture, and highlighted the importance of specific forest resources as a source of food for bees. He emphasised the interdependence of forest ecosystems and apiculture, and called for greater collaboration to promote the health and sustainability of both.
The PS noted that Eswatini was blessed with both natural and planted forests, such as citrus, wattle, acacia, pine, and eucalyptus trees. The country’s weather conditions are also ideal for honey production, enabling beekeepers to harvest honey three times a year and produce an average of 35 tonnes annually, according to Simelane.
However, the PS also highlighted the country’s untapped potential to increase production. He encouraged beekeepers to capitalise on the opportunities available and take advantage of the country’s ideal conditions to boost honey production.
