Bee keepers want processing plants

By Kiganda Ssonko

BEE farmers want honey processing plants to be set up as a means of improving the quality of their exports. The processing plants would improve standards.

Maria Odido, the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation chairerson, said in an interview last week, “honey is one of the products of agriculture that could fetch a lot of revenue for this country from both local and international sales if it is well organised to reach the required qualities and quantities.”

Apiculture is the keeping of bees for commercial purposes.

Odido said there huge amounts of honey in the country but farmers lacked proper business direction.

“Many people are involved in bee-keeping and they are able to get as much honey as possible. Such honey could be for exported if it is well collected, processed and preserved in good containers,” she said, adding, “The market is available outside and would lead to bigger revenues for farmers, traders and government itself, thus reducing poverty.”