The Bee Keepers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter, on Friday urged the Federal Government to support the private sector efforts aimed at attracting youths to the business.
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The association’s Chairman, Mr Ayodele Salako, said in an interview in Lagos that the government could render support through seminars and sensitisation programmes.
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Salako said that bees were pollinators that increased reproduction of fruit crops.
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He said that bee keeping was an emerging business that needed government support for sustainable growth and development for interested Nigerian youths.
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“The association usually organises vigorous training, sensitisation and seminars geared toward attracting young farmers to join the association.
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“There are not many bee keepers doing the business presently, that is why we do as much as we can to encourage youths in bee keeping.
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“Although, state governments usually organise seminars once or twice a year but it is not enough to inform and educate people about the essence of bee keeping.
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“Bees are pollinators that help other agricultural crops, so if we have more bee keepers, we will have more agricultural produce,” he said.
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The association’s chairman said that bees were 80 per cent pollinators for crops like cocoa, coffee, kolanut, pawpaw and pineapples.
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Salako also said that bush burning and vandalism of beehives were challenges to the development of the business in Nigeria.
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“Our major challenges are bush burning and vandalism, people vandalise our beehives in the bush.
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“Another area is the area of infrastructure, there are so many people who are interested in the bee keeping business but do not have the financial capacity,” he said.
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Beekeeping is a sustainable form of agricultural business.
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