ZHC CONDUCTS BASELINE STUDY
The Zambia Honey Council ZHC, in collaboration with the Swedish Cooperative Center SCC through its Rural Development Programme under a programme called Farmers Organizations Fighting Poverty and Injustice (FOPFI) held two day workshops in Kaoma and Kapirimposhi respectively during the month of June 2011. Programme Manager for ZHC, Mr. Macdonald Kayuuna explained that the baseline workshop is just one of the activities lined up to address Honey producers, and processors needs.
Mr. Kayuuna said ZHC has continued to be enthusiastic in encouraging bee keeping techniques in the districts quantity, quality production and marketing of honey. ZHC has also been working closely with District Associations in preparing trainings in bee keeping, in order to encourage and consolidate the use of modern techniques in honey production.
The aim of the workshop was to establish a baseline activity in the Honey Industry.The baseline study was conducted in order to ascertain the levels of service satisfaction by the ZHC membership by looking at the strengths, weakness and opportunities that exist within the Honey Value Chain. The workshops were also aimed at empowering members of the respective association with continuous guides to acquire the knowledge and skills to promote the Honey Industry.
The workshops provided a platform for members to share current developments and experiences in the Honey business. It also took a new twist with members calling for more women bee keepers, as women participation in Zambia is still very low. However, the results of the baseline study indicated that women participation has grown from 16% in 2008 to 30% in2010.
Following the outcome of the workshop, ZHC has been able to provide various services to its members ranging from quality production, information and marketing. Members have been satisfied with training in bulking center management and information on marketing opportunities and producer prices for Honey. This has seen an increase in honey and wax production in various districts. Currently Kabompo district is leading in Honey production, with honey traders buying for domestic market and export.
Honey producers spoke of their achievements in developing localized, successful modern methods of keeping bees. They also highlighted the numerous challenges with the animals in the local area such as the honey badger, chipmunks, caterpillars, snakes and wasps that either eat the honey or destroy the bee hives. ZHC members (honey producers) called for support from government, in bee keeping as well as having functional Honey district offices in all districts and increased networking from bee keepers, traders, processors, exporters and other market intermediaries.
ZHC ENCOURAGING WOMEN .....
Interest in bee keeping for many woman has been influenced by what members of the communities in various districts have heard about what bee keeping can do in changing people's lives and how to sustain a living.... read more