Minister Gobin encourages local beekeepers to increase honey production


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A one-day workshop on the Beekeeping project entitled “Alternative livelihoods for food and income security in the four island nations of the Indian Ocean” (Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar and Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania), was launched this morning by the Attorney General, Minister of Agribusiness and Food Security, Mr. Maneesh Gobin, at Voila hotel in Bagatelle.

At the same time, the Minister gave a one-off grant of Rs 20,000 to four local beekeepers for the purchase of beekeeping equipment as part of a program to promote beekeeping. So far, out of the 33 beekeepers who have applied for the subsidy, five beneficiaries who have already purchased their beekeeping equipment have obtained their subsidy. The beneficiaries present each handed over a sample of their honey production to the Minister and to the foreign experts present.

In his speech, Minister Gobin reaffirmed the government’s commitment to stimulate local honey production and renewed its determination to provide local beekeepers with the necessary support. While stressing that in 2020, some 27 tonnes of honey were produced locally and some 300 tonnes were imported, the Minister insisted on the need to relaunch local production.

He noted that there is a market for honey in Mauritius and encouraged local production and consumption of food. In addition, he warned that importing means the loss of the country’s foreign currency.

Regarding stimulating local honey production in the country, Mr. Maneesh Gobin said the government was injecting direct investment through cash grants and road tax concessions, which three registered beekeepers have so far now benefited for their double cabin vehicles. He also added that the Ministry of Agro-industry plans to increase the areas of beekeeping areas, to place bee colonies in “hunted”, as well as to create dedicated areas in naturally welcoming areas. , including a new bee zone at Dauguet in Port-Louis.

Minister Gobin said the results of honey samples obtained from beekeepers for analysis at the Food Technology Laboratory are encouraging. The results, he informed, showed that the local raw honey is of good quality because it has a sucrose content of less than 5%.

The Minister also expressed his gratitude to the two foreign experts from Kenya currently providing training in Mauritius, for sharing their knowledge and experience. As such, he stressed the importance of knowing how things are done elsewhere in the region. He urged workshop participants to make the most of the experts’ knowledge.

The workshop

During the workshop, participants will get an overview of the beekeeping project in the four island nations of the Indian Ocean thanks to a foreign expert, Dr Elliud Muli, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya. They will also have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the results of the socio-economic assessment of the beekeeping project in Mauritius by Dr Gichungi Hannah Mumbi, from the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya.

The project

It is recalled that in 2019, the Ministry of Agribusiness and Food Security signed an agreement with the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology for a two-year phase II project entitled “Alternative Livelihoods for Food and Income Security in four Indian Ocean Island United Nations (Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros and Madagascar) and Zanzibar (United Republic of Tanzania) -Phase II ‘to revive beekeeping in Mauritius.

This project follows on from the Phase I project which was implemented from 2015 to 2017. The Phase II project was jointly funded by the Government of Mauritius and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The main activities of the project were the intensification of technologies in the improvement of beekeeping and pollination services and the integration of forest conservation to consolidate the achievements of the first phase of the project; and establish infrastructure and build and / or strengthen capacities for honey bee pest management and honey quality control.

In 2020, 311 people (including 65 women) were trained in beekeeping and a new model of beehive that helps bees to fight against Varroa was developed. These beehives and other beekeeping equipment were distributed to 350 beekeepers.

In addition, three beekeeping areas have been created. Three beekeepers had access to bee colonies at Petit Sable while 10 beekeepers placed bee colonies at La Ferme, while 10 other beekeepers placed bee colonies at Bras d’Eau. A total of 83 beehives were placed at the three sites.

From 2016 to 2017, the Forest Services planted some 17,000 honey plants including eucalyptus, roussaille, acerola, jamblon, lucuma, guava, tamarind and campeche were planted in Bras d’Eau.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Republic of Mauritius.

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