Simpson M
The Deputy RDC of Rukungiri District, Wilberforce Ongom, has called for increased honey production among beekeepers to help the country reach its full production potential. Ongom made these remarks while handing over honey harvesting equipment to beekeepers at the district premises today.
Ongom pointed out that honey production across the country is currently very low, falling significantly short of the national potential. He urged beekeepers to focus on enhancing honey production in Rukungiri and across the nation. He also encouraged more people to engage in beekeeping, noting that it requires minimal labor and capital investment.
Ongom emphasized the importance of producing quality honey for the market and called for industry regulation and enforcement to protect consumers and traders from unfair competition. He advised farmers to handle the new equipment with care to ensure it benefits many others who may need to use it in the future.
Naome Natukunda, the Senior Agriculture Officer for Rukungiri District, urged farmers to use the provided equipment profitably to improve honey productivity and their livelihoods. She also recommended agroforestry to increase nectar and pollen availability, thereby reducing the distance bees need to travel to collect raw materials for honey production.
Kukunda Lilian Twine, the Senior Entomologist for Rukungiri District, explained that the equipment, including bee suits, gloves, honey presses, smokers, and honey settling tanks, was given to representatives of the Kitoha Beekeepers Association, the Kitojo Beekeeper Association, and one individual, Shadurak Ahabwe from Buyanja. This support came from an extension grant provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries to promote and improve income productivity and welfare development.
The beekeepers who received the honey harvesting equipment expressed their gratitude to the Rukungiri District Agriculture Department and the ministry for their support. They noted that they had faced challenges in harvesting honey but now hope to produce high-quality honey with the new equipment.
