Agoa adds impetus to honey export sector

Zambia’s burgeoning honey export sector is upbeat about continued growth. According to The Times of Zambia, the honey sector recorded an increase in production from 500 000 to 600 000 tonnes between 2009 and 2010, representing a 20% increase. And with favourable weather patterns the industry is expecting more of the same for this year. Zambia Honey Council (ZHC) programme manager, Macdonald Kayuna, says increased impetus has come from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). In order to meet international quality standards, the council has embarked on a capacity-building and service-delivery programme to train farmers in production, quality management and market access. He said 750 bee-keepers had been trained this year and that number of trained farmers stood at 8 000 at the end of 2010 out of the targeted 15 000 keepers countrywide.