Honey production will change people’s fortunes

Editor, RE: “Beekeepers look to triple honey production by 2018” (The New Times, August 20). It was way back on March 2, 2015 when the Managing Director of Arjun Beeswax Industries (India) visited Kigali and registered his company with the Rwanda Development Board under the name, “Arjun Beeswax Industries (Rwanda) Limited. So ambitious was this dynamic and enterprising gentleman from Vadodara, Gujarat, that he even identified the plot in the Kigali Free Economic Zone where he would launch his production unit. This company will be using the waste product, namely the honeycombs, left over after the extraction of honey—something which is currently being thrown away by the Rwandan farmers. So now, with honey production being tripled by Rwandan beekeepers, and consequently, a triple quantum of the honeycombs being made available, one can look forward to a fast track commencement of this production unit, which will not only employ locals, but will also utilise, effectively, a “waste product” and bring in foreign exchange earnings for the country. Arjun Beeswax Industries is currently exporting from Vadodara to many African countries. So why not “Made in Rwanda” and export not only to African countries, but also to the vast European market as well? We wish the Bee Federation of Rwanda and Apiary Limited of Singapore every success in this new and very exciting partnership which will result in a win-win situation for all. Clarence Fernandes, Mumbai, India

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Honey production will change people’s fortunes