The Federal Government at weekend, said the country could generate about $2.4million annually from honey production.
It as well decried the proliferation of adulterated honey across the country, blaming this on insufficient production of the commodity.
Speaking at a sensitisation walk to mark the 2017 World Honeybee day in Abuja, the Assistant Director, Commodity, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mr Sunday Jeje said globally, about $7 billion is generated annually from honey.
He said apart from honey, other products which can be gotten from bee innclude bee wax, polish among others.
Meanwhile, the National President, Federation of beekeeper of Nigeria, Mr Biodun Ojeleye noted that the adulteration of honey cannot be stopped as the country is not producing enough.
He said, “It is not possible for us to stop adulterants completely in Nigeria simply because we are not producing enough honey. Where we producing enough and the enforcement agencies are assisting in that regard it makes it easier; but presently, we cannot stop adulteration just like that. As soon as we can be able to produce enough, then adulteration will stop.”
Similarly, Mr Lawal Abdulrahman, a beekeeper in Oyo State who decried the low participation of Government in Nigeria said, “The Government has not been involved in beekeeping process. Up till now, there is no positive response from the government towards supporting beekeeping in Nigeria, but hopefully with the trend and latest development with our awareness today, we hope that the government will key in.”
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