By Tive Okpalefe
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), has urged Bee farmers to imbibe best practices on bee farming to be able to compete in the Global Export Market. This call was made by the Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso at a One Day sensitization workshop on bee farming in Delta State, organized by RMRDC Delta State Coordinating Office in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council Delta State Coordinating Office, held at the conference hall, Delta state Ministry of Trade and Investment, Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba.
The Director-General who was represented by the RMRDC Delta state Coordinator, Mrs Lesley Okoh at the event emphasized the importance of the workshop, as it would offer an opportunity for participants to interact and exchange ideas that are critical to sustaining and developing the bee farming business in Delta state and break into the global export market. Prof. Ike-Muonso said bee farming offers a profitable enterprise, even for individuals with minimal resources, because it generates income from products like honey, beeswax. Pollen and propolis.
In his goodwill message, the Delta state Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Hon. Solomon Olidida, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Diden Eremola, said the workshop was very timely as it is an opportunity for participants to learn and acquire new knowledge on how best to boost the bee farming business. He said at present, global honey market is valued at 11 billion US dollars and this value is expected to continue in a positive growth trajectory due to increasing preference for organic and sustainable products. The Commissioner said it is interesting to know that Nigerians are already taking advantage of the growing demand for honey in the international market by contributing 22% or 12 million US dollars in 2024. Ironically according to the Commissioner, report by RMRDC and NEPC indicates that Delta state’s contribution to the international honey market is currently minimal, as its honey production is primarily for local consumption with issues like poor processing and limited modern techniques.
He therefore urged participants to take advantage of the huge opportunity of the workshop as it would empower them the cutting-edged techniques, networking opportunities and innovative ideas to take bee farming to a higher level with improved quality honey for export.
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Also, speaking at the event, the Delta State Coordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Peter Onokpasa said the workshop is one of series of workshops being put together by the RMRDC in collaboration with NEPC to train SMEs, entrepreneurs and exporters to produce goods with value addition for local consumption and for export to generate foreign exchange.
