Value bees for medicinal purposes

Bee farmers in Manicaland have expressed concern over decreasing yields in apiculture owing to human interference which has resulted in the destruction of many hives.

Speaking at the International Bee Day commemorations held in Mutare on Monday, Manicaland Apiculture Association chairperson Mr Ishmael Sithole said bees were not only important for honey but for medicinal purposes as well.

He said it was important for humans not to interfere with the natural cycle of bees since it was affecting yields.

“Recent research established that a special component called caffeic acid found in propolis produced by bees, has a bioactive compound that can be used to treat prostate cancer cells found in men,” he said.

“Recently, the use of propolis was established as a preventive measure. Let us not only focus on honey or bee wax which has more than 200 industrial uses, but let us also consider the health importance of bees. Of course bees can pose so much harm to people but let us value them for medicinal purposes,” said Mr Sithole.

He also said there was need for the city council to consider apiculture in the urban areas.

“We need more bees hence, it will be an achievement if the local leadership allows us to venture into bee keeping here in the urban areas,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Mr Rodney Nyamutswa, a beekeeper said although they acknowledged that bees could be dangerous to humans, the methods which people used to remove them were regressive to endeavours to promote apiculture.

“These removal methods we use sometimes affect the reproduction of the bees which is also important in the medical field,” he said.