Bee farmers have called on districts to incorporate honey production among their annual performance targets to help improve production and subsequently export volumes.

The current honey production in the country is about 3,700 tonnes a year. T he country needs about 4,500 tonnes of honey a year. 

The Federation of Beekeepers’ Cooperatives in Rwanda (FERWACAPI) said for Rwanda to be in position to export honey, there is a need to produce more than 5,000 tonnes.

Speaking to The New Times last week, president of the FERWACAPI, Anselme Nzabonimpa, said for the target of more than 5,000 tonnes to be attained, each district should produce atleast 200 tonnes of honey.

He said Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru districts which border Nyungwe National Park, each can produce atleast 500 tonnes of honey per year.

This would require laying many beehives along the Nyungwe belt and having a clear beekeeping programme.

"There are foreign customers who need a constant supply of 20 tonnes of honey every week, which is equivalent to over 1,000 tonnes of honey in 52 weeks making up a year,” he said.

"Districts include livestock rearing in their Imihigo (performance contracts), but do not pay attention to beekeeping. We request districts to include in their performance contracts beekeeping to increase honey production,” Nzabonimpa added.

Bugesera, Gatsibo and Kayonza districts, which border Akagera National Park, should produce at least 300 tonnes of honey each, according to Nzabonimpa.

"If those seven districts commit to it we can achieve tangible results.”

The Nyaruguru District vice mayor for finance and economic development, Antoine Bisizi, said the district has embarked on a policy to modernise beekeeping through cooperatives.

He said they supported women beekeepers in Kibeho and Rusenge sectors with 150 modern beehives provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The district also supported women with an additional 30 modern beehives.

"We have put more efforts in mobilisation so that honey production increases,” he said.

Bisizi said incorporating honey production in district Imihigo is worth considering.

Léoncie Kankindi, the Rusizi District vice mayor for finance and economic development, told The New Times on Wednesday, that the district has started to integrate honey production in Imihigo.

There are six cooperatives in beekeeping in the district.

"Integrating beekeeping and honey production in district’s Imihigo is very important because it will show that beekeepers’ work is valued,” he said.

The Nyamagabe vice mayor for finance and economic development, Lambert Kabayiza, said the district produces some 41 tonnes of honey per year.

He said in Gasaka Sector, there is a cooperative that was given 150 modern beehives and a beekeeping structure to run their business.

"Though it is not in the district’s Imihigo, we are planning to bring together 60 people in Kaduha Sector, where 50 beehives were distributed. We need to promote bee keeping as a profitable business,” he said.

The price of a kilogramme of honey ranges from Rwf2,000 to Rwf3,000.

According to FERWACAPI, there are about 35,000 known beekeepers in the country, some 90,000 modern beehives, and 200,000 traditional beehives.

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