Rwandan honey impresses at Expo

RWANDAN Pure natural honey impressed, attracting buyers and prospective investors in the honey industry at the recently concluded 2008 Apiculture Expo in Kampala. Terming it as extremely sweet, pure and natural, the honey produced by Centre of Apiculture Service (CESAPI) and the Byumba-based Cooperative de Apicultures de Rushaki (CAR), impressed exhibitors and buyers at the three-day fair that brought together Apiculturalists (Bee keepers) from across the Continent, Europe, Asia and Latin America. The Rwandan stall that had over 8 exhibitors in honey and other bee products was the most visited by show goers. Also on display were candles made from bee wax, samples of cosmetics products like lotions, soaps, Vaseline, all made from Bee products the bee keeping cooperative in Rwanda intends to produce on commercial basis. The show also drew specialists in honey production and packaging technology from Europe and Asia who expressed willingness to support and invest in the bee industry in Africa which produces arguably the best honey in the world. Speaking to The New Times in Kampala, the Spokesperson of CAR which has over 360 members from Mulindi, Rushaki, Gitega, Kiyombe and Gihengeri, Gerald Habumugabe said that Rwanda’s natural honey is highly marketable because of its tropical nature. He attributed the sweetness to the variety of flora species Rwanda is blessed with that provide Nectar from which the bees produce the honey. Habumugabe said that the country’s honey production has doubled up to 7 tons annually. He attributes this to the shift from traditional to modern bee keeping and increased support from NGO’s like the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) and the government though the Rural Small and Micro-Enterprise Promotion Project (PPPMER II). He said that CAR and ARDI (Association Rwandaise Pour la Promotion du Development Integre) are now eying the European and Asian Markets and are also set to embark on commercial production of wax candles, cosmetics and medicines from bee products. “We are currently concentrating on the regional market but we are mainly focused on exporting Rwandan honey to Europe, Asia and America in the long run,” said Habumugabe He also said that some investors from China have already shown interest in establishing a bigger factory for processing and packaging to add value and boost honey production in Rwanda. He called upon Rwandans to engage in Apiculture as bee products have ready market which can be a source of revenue to rural households and a means of fighting poverty. PPPMER II Operations Manager and head of the Rwandan delegation, Eng. Titus Gakwaya, said that it’s a part of the government plans to support small scale enterprises and households at grassroots levels as a means of combating poverty. Among the programs supported by PPPMER II is bee keeping and the award winning ‘Agaseke’ project. Meanwhile Rwanda will hold the 2009 Apiculture Expo in March next year. Ends

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Rwandan honey impresses at Expo