The African Regional Apimondia Symposium held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC in Durban, came to a close today after three days of intense discussions and idea-sharing. The event, which was aimed at uplifting beekeeping and honey processing in the continent, was attended by stakeholders in the industry from across Africa.
Thoko Didiza, minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development, delivered the keynote address at the symposium. She commended the Apimondia initiative and expressed her optimism that the beekeeping sector, if given the necessary support, could transform the livelihoods of rural communities and help grow the rural economies.
The minister urged the scientific community to share their research papers and knowledge to diversify opportunities in the beekeeping sector.
“We will be glad to see honey and honey products being part of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area initiative, and we commit as the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development to ensure that challenges currently experienced as far as irradiation of honey is concerned, are addressed,” Didiza said.
She also highlighted the importance of sanitary and phytosanitary compliance in unlocking trade among African countries, saying that quarantine diseases control, food safety, and quality were paramount.
Didiza called upon African leaders in the agricultural and beekeeping fraternity to advance programmes and strategies that will assist in improving infrastructure such as laboratories, processing plants, and ports of entry.
Regarding the challenges faced by the beekeeping and honey processing sector, the minister called for interventions to confront issues such as disease control and honey adulteration. She noted that in South Africa, almost all provinces were participating in beekeeping, but some still needed more assistance to be on par.
National beekeeping strategy
Didiza also stressed the need for a national strategy for beekeeping that would give direction to the provinces and local municipalities. “The importance of beekeeping, honey, and honey products is quite massive and cannot be overemphasised, and it is an opportunity worth investing in.”
She mentioned the regulatory services offered by South Africa, which covers disease control, grading, labelling, and packaging, making the country ready to trade with any country that is ready to trade with them.
The minister also shared a success story of the Pafuri project established in 2021, wherein 167 beehives were manufactured manually and given to about 60 young people in the Vhembe district of Limpopo in the Pafuri area in the quest to fight poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity.
Didiza emphasised that beekeeping and honey processing are essential for both household and industrial uses, including producing cosmetic products, pollination business, medicinal use, and food security. She encouraged African countries to share their stories to build the beekeeping and honey processing industry in the continent.
The minister noted that many of the beekeepers and honey processors in Africa were resource-poor, unable to afford to buy beehives, apiary equipment, or set up processing plants. She highlighted that there is no specific funding for beekeeping in South Africa and many other African states.
Didiza assured the stakeholders that the South African government was supporting research in bees and apiculture and offering training at a subsidised cost.
