Local beekeepers to benefit from project
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The operations of local beekeepers and honey farmers have been given a major boost through the Apiculture Strategic Project with funding of over $130,000 courtesy of the UNDP GEF Small Grant Programme.
The UNDP Global Environment Facility's Small Grants Programme has received funding to the tune of $130,711 (USD$50,000) for the implementation of the project.
There are 41 active beekeepers in Samoa and the S.G.P. will work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F.) on the project.
The M.A.F. Chief Executive Officer ,Tilafono David Hunter said in a statement that based on recent data there is a market value of $1.1 million Tala in beekeeping catering to the local market.
"The global natural honey market size was valued at $2.26 billion US dollars in 2018," he said.
"In saying this, there is potential that upon perfecting and focusing on beekeeping, we can be in a position to export our honey products to overseas markets, although our current honey production cannot satisfy our own consumer demand."
A workshop was held on Tuesday at the Taumeasina Island Resort for interested beekeepers on how to access the funding.
The Country Programme Manager for UN Women and beekeeper, Papalii Mele Maualaivao, said that the workshop shows how much enthusiasm and support is out there and how far Samoa has to go to revitalise its honey production industry.
"For many years, the beekeeping industry was managed by a small group. We hope with the community-based requirements of this project, focusing on youth and women, that we can broaden the spectrum of beekeepers," Papalii said.
"Current data says that more than 50 per cent of beekeepers in Samoa are over the age of 55 and that beekeeping is not taught at any academic institution (specifically agricultural studies).
"This funding is an opportunity to create a stepping stone to bigger and better production from community based to industry."
According to Papalii, the more beekeepers there are in Samoa, the better.
"We are blessed with a unique situation where we are relatively disease-free and do not suffer from CCD," she added.
"It's so important that we create a new generation of people who not only love bees and all they produce, but see how vital they are to our environment and our livelihoods."
Beekeeper and owner of Vaoala Vanilla, Shelley Burich, said in the statement that beekeeping is a vital component of agriculture and environmental protection.
"While bees were introduced to Samoa some 100 years ago, the industry went from thriving, to barely surviving," Mrs. Burich said.
"We need to create a community of beekeeping which goes beyond just industry needs and focuses on education, mentoring, and community-based initiatives.
"We need beekeeping clubs, beekeepers’ associations, and supporting academic institutions to sustain the knowledge in country."
She added that there are only 33 per cent of beekeepers are women, but there is an impossibility to increase the number if the knowledge and training is made available to everyone, from urban enthusiasts to rural committees.
The Apiculture Strategic Project involves six countries from the Caribbean (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago) and Samoa (being the only country from the Pacific).
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