Agric minister hints at new national policy on apiculture

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi has hinted at a new national policy to revitalize the apiculture subsector to achieve its potential.

This is just as the Minister lamented the untapped honey industry which he said the inclusion of the youth will help drive the industry which will contribute massively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Speaking while receiving some youth bee farmers under the auspices of Youth in Apiculture Initiative, Senator Abdullahi expressed happiness that the honey industry has not been totally abandoned.

He said the industry will contribute immensely to the $1 trillion economy that President Bola Tinubu is targeting to achieve for the country.

“What you have done and what you are doing is not just inspiring, but it is going to be a game changer. The honey industry is a latent, untapped industry waiting to be fully exploited. I am happy to know that this honey that people tend to take for granted is not just abandoned, it is being nurtured by a crop of Nigerians who believe in Nigeria.

“What you are doing is exactly what the president has seen as a vision to be supported. So, when he said a $1 trillion economy is possible for Nigeria, do you now understand what he is saying? Because there are a lot of latent areas that have been underserved, and he believes that as a government, we should pay attention to it”, the Minister said.

While assuring the youth of Government’s support, he charged the Director of Animal Husbandry Services, Mrs Winnie Lai-Solanrin to kickstart a Multi-Stakeholders Platform (MSP) for the apiculture in Nigeria and draw partners and stakeholders to the platform.

“I want to assure you that apiculture will receive the utmost attention from this government. As a government, we are not interested in political farmers or portfolio farmers, we are interested in genuine and innovative farmers who truly believe in what they are doing and they know exactly how to do it.

“I believe developing a policy will not be a difficult challenge, it should be something that we should easily be able to do. We must go and learn from the experts and see what we can do immediately as part of the Renewed Hope of President Bola Tinubu, we will definitely develop the honey industry. Honey has a lot of uses, both from the biological to the physical where we consume it”, the Minister added.

Earlier, the youth informed the Minister of the economic benefits of supporting and investing in apiculture. They sought the support of the government to develop policies to drive the apiculture subsector.

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