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Donors asked to help Kunene bee farmers

Donors asked to help Kunene bee farmers

OPUWO – The Forestry Officer in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at Opuwo, Ben Kahirimana, has called on donor agencies to assist bee farmers in the Kunene Region.

Kahirimana told Nampa that 10 bee farmers, who started with their activities last year, were in need of financial support to do better. “The honey harvests have improved and increased from only subsistence to commercial honey harvests,” said Kahirimana.According to Kahirimana, project members are promoting bio-diversity, as they have abandoned their past habit of killing bees, and even setting trees and grass on fire, in order to harvest the honey.”With the assistance of donors these 10 project members will fence off beehives and commercialise their honey production,” he said.He added that in other countries bee farming was big business and provided employment for thousands of people.”With the Kunene River at our disposal, the Kunene Region has the potential of increasing production and making honey harvesting a big industry in the Kunene while preserving bio-diversity and protecting the forests,” said Kahirimana.The honeybee project at Omuhiva village near Opuwo harvested 70 litres of honey in June and July.Kahirimana said the Omuhiva honey project needed at least N$80 000 to turn into a commercially viable enterprise.This amount was needed to buy smokers, beehives, cans, protective clothing and fencing materials, he said.The project is selling its honey at N$20 for a 500-gram jar, which is N$6 less than other shops in town.- Nampa”The honey harvests have improved and increased from only subsistence to commercial honey harvests,” said Kahirimana.According to Kahirimana, project members are promoting bio-diversity, as they have abandoned their past habit of killing bees, and even setting trees and grass on fire, in order to harvest the honey.”With the assistance of donors these 10 project members will fence off beehives and commercialise their honey production,” he said.He added that in other countries bee farming was big business and provided employment for thousands of people.”With the Kunene River at our disposal, the Kunene Region has the potential of increasing production and making honey harvesting a big industry in the Kunene while preserving bio-diversity and protecting the forests,” said Kahirimana.The honeybee project at Omuhiva village near Opuwo harvested 70 litres of honey in June and July.Kahirimana said the Omuhiva honey project needed at least N$80 000 to turn into a commercially viable enterprise.This amount was needed to buy smokers, beehives, cans, protective clothing and fencing materials, he said.The project is selling its honey at N$20 for a 500-gram jar, which is N$6 less than other shops in town.- Nampa

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