VRCC to establish apiaries in all Assemblies

Hohoe, July 1, GNA - The Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) would establish apiaries (beekeeping) in its 18 municipal and district assemblies, to bolster the enterprise for socio-economic growth. Colonel (rtd) Cyril Necku, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, who made this disclosure at the general assembly of Volta Region Association of Beekeepers (VORAB) at Hohoe, called for further consultation among stakeholders to ensure its full implementation.

He said government was poised in developing all viable economic sectors including the apiculture industry, as it was fast becoming the main non-traditional export activity in the region.

Col Necku said government was therefore in a process of promulgating a national policy on beekeeping to ensure the business blossoms. He said beekeeping as a business, when well-positioned has prospects of employing an estimated 54, 000 people and promote increased foreign exchange.

Col Necku said its benefits transcend agriculture, environmental protection, forestry management, textile industry, medicine, food security and energy.

Mr Emmanuel Yao Dey, Volta Regional Production Officer of MOFA, said the region's potential in honey and hive products were enormous, which is second only to Benue State of Nigeria within the West African sub-region. Mr Samuel N. Y. Tosu, Executive Director of VORAB, said apiculture industry is plagued with lack of policy direction, low level of skills, environmental problems such as bushfires, lack of market and credit. He appealed to the 18 districts to embrace the apiary concept and invest in at least 1,000 beehives each.

Mr Tosu said a multi-stakeholder platform comprising SNV, MoFA, NBSSI, E. P University and Heifer Project International, conceptualised the policy document on beekeeping.

He said statistics made available by SNV, Eastern Portfolio and E. P University, indicates about 2,600 people were involved in the beekeeping industry in the region with Hohoe, Kete-Krachi and Nkwanta districts being the front-runners.

Mr K. T Hammond, Volta Regional Fire Officer, called for the review of PNDC Law 229 on bushfires to make it more punitive and serve as deterrent. He requested that the District Assemblies Common Fund for fire fighting be released to assist in carrying out fire safety educational programmes, training and equip fire volunteers adequately in combating wild fires. Ms Gloria Akaba, a representative of the Development Institute, a Ho-based NGO, said apiculture guarantees conservation agriculture, restores the ecosystem and ecology, combat desertification and is an alternative source of livelihood.

The assembly was held on the theme, "Making Beekeeping the Number One Natural Environment-Related Employment Opportunity in Ghana."