NEPC trains 100 beekeepers in Nsukka on quality honey for export

By Agency Report

Nigerian Export Promotion Council (Nepc) Has Trained 100 Beekeepers In Enugu North Senatorial District, On How To Produce Quality Honey And Its By-products That Will Meet International Standard For Export.

The one-day capacity training was on building/intervention programme on the development of honey and honey by-products for export was organised by NEPC in collaboration with Aku JOFRAN Global Concept (AJGC)

In a remark in Nsukka, Dr Ezra Yakusak the Executive Director (ED) of NEPC said that, the  objective of the training was to teach participants on how to produce honey and its by-products that would be fit for export in any part of the world.

Yakusak said that, honey had become a lucrative business globally as many countries made millions of dollars yearly from exporting honey and its by-products.

"This training is apt as the agriculture sector is very important industry that needs to be encouraged to help boost the economy of the country.

"Nigeria  needs more employment generation and export diversifications to reduce over dependence on crude oil.

"This training is expected to teach beekeeper in the area on how to produce quality honey and its by-products that will be exported in any part of the world without rejection," he said.

The ED who was represented by the South East Regional Director, Mrs Esther Ikporah said that, the council would continue to encourage producing of quality honey and its by products to facilitate market access of the Nsukka Honey brand in Europe Union and other international markets.

"Participants will also learn how to process honey by-products like beeswax, propolis, pollen, royal jelly and honeycomb.

"Honey by-products like honey itself are all in high demand in international markets,"he said.

In a remark, Mr Matthew Idu, the Commissioner for Agriculture in Enugu State commended the organisers of the training workshop.

Idu urged participants to see the training as serious business that would not only earn them foreign exchange in dollars in future but would also help to boost the economy of the country.

He said Chief Ifeanyichukwu Okpo, Chairman of AJGC  is know all over because he exports quality honey and its by-products in international markets.

"I commend organisers of this training in their wisdom to see that more honey producers get the required knowledge to enable them meet international standard in exporting honey and its by-products.

"Participants should take this train serious as honey business has become a lucrative business globally," Idu said.

Speaking, Prof Charles Igwe the Vice-Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) described Nsukka as an area know to produce original honey which many called 'Nsukka honey'.

Igwe who was represented by Bonaventure Echezomo, Director Centre for Entrepreneur and Development Research (CEDR) in the university, commended NEPC capacity building training for beekeepers in the district.

"This will bring about increased value in productivity,human resources development with resultant effects on sustainable income and food security.

"I have no doubt that knowledge gained from this training will in no distant time help produce more  honey exporters in this country with global reckoning," he said.

Earlier in a remark, Okpo who collaborated with NEPC to organise the event, urged participants to avoid adulterating their honey,which he said made the honey unfit for consumption and  export.

Okpo said that, he had been exporting honey for many years and his honey was  known globally because he adhered to international best practices in producing, packaging and exporting honey.

"I always advise beekeepers to avoid the temptations of adulterating their honey.

"If you adulterate you honey, it will not be accepted for export and even locally anybody who buys honey today from you, will not come back tomorrow because he/she will know you added something to it.

"Honey business is lucrative nationally and internationally, if you want to money from it, you must avoid adulteration," Okpo advised.

Some of the participants in an interview with NAN expressed appreciation to organisers of the event for given the knowledge on how to make their honey and honey by-products fit for export.

Sylvia Onoja a participant said she learnt many new things from the training that will help her to teach others on how to produce quality honey for export.

Each participant at the workshop got a pair of beekeeping gloves from  NEPC.

The gloves were specially designed to curb contamination of honey during harvesting as well as protect beekeepers from bee stings.

NAN reports that, participants were drilled on stage by stage on how to produce quality honey and its packaging so that it would be certified and approved  by relivant bodies nationally and internationally for export in any part of the world.