Apiculture structures decentralised

THE Zimbabwe Apicultural Platform (ZAP) will this year set up provincial structures for easier access to old and new members as it gears towards an export drive.

By Rex Mphisa

In an interview recently, ZAP national interim secretary Welcome Bhila said his organisation would establish offices in all provinces to have a more co-ordinated approach in the industry.

Apiculture is the art of beekeeping, which involves maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in man-made hives. Bee farmers harvest honey and also keep stingless honey-producing bees such as Melipona.

“The objectives are to see the growth of the industry through a co-ordinated approach using a collective platform we seek to establish,” he said, adding it was also important to have a collective voice, share notes and have an equitable industry with sustainable value chains.

“We also want to resolve technical challenges and find ways to approach possible conflicts in the sector while we empower each other to have industry growth,” he said.

Between January and June, a number of meetings are scheduled for all provinces, where executives for each new provincial office are expected to be selected.

The sector hopes to hold its first honey show in the Midlands province this year.

Honey is regarded as medicinal and has become a major part of diets in Zimbabwe, while its use has grown internationally.