Luano Honey has revealed that Zambia’s honey production has increased to 10,000 metric tons this year from the 5,000 metric tons produced last year leading to bee keepers running out of local markets to sell their honey.
Recently, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock secured the European Union as an export market for organic honey, following the certification of Zambia’s residue control plan adding that this achievement will open up opportunities for citizens to participate in the production of honey and other bee-hive products as the market is readily available.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Luano Honey CEO
Miit Pandoliker said that one of the major challenges local bee keepers are faced with is the lack of markets to sell their honey, lack of bee keeping tools such as bee hives, bee foods and the knowledge in bee keeping.
Pandoliker expressed optimism that Once local bee keepers are equipped with bee keeping knowledge, given the right tools and the right market, the honey Industry in Zambia will thrive.
He revealed that South Africa currently has a huge trade barrier for honey exports adding that if the Zambian government can dialogue with the South African government to remove the trade barrier it would become easier for the honey Industry in Zambia to thrive.
“In terms of Zambia’s production capacity its about 10, 000 tons this year of which last year the production might have been half of this years production. In terms of local production there is more than enough honey. There is too much honey that farmers do not have a market for their honey.
Lack of market is the biggest challenge local honey farmers are currently experiencing and lack of inputs such as the beehives, bee foods, the tools and the knowledge in bee keeping. Once educated and given the right tools and the right market, the honey Industry in Zambia can thrive,” he said.
“In South Africa there is a very big trade barrier of honey exports to South Africa but if the Zambian government can talk to the South African government to remove the trade barrier it will be easier for us to survive,” said Pandoliker.
Pandoliker therefore emphasized on the need for the Zambian government to support honey companies to participate in international trade especially with countries where honey is scarce so as to increase the international market for the Zambian honey.
“We need more people participating in international trade shows and if companies can get support to go to markets where honey is very scarce , appreciated and valuable like the middle east where there is very little honey production and the United kingdom where the value for honey is high or basically countries that import honey, it can increase the Zambian honey market,” emphasized Pandoliker.
