Cyber Ethiopia

Ethiopia earned about 7.06 million birr by exporting 20 quintals of honey and 3,430.5 quintals of beeswax between 1992 and 2000,official in the Ministry of Agriculture disclosed this week on the fourth anniversary of Ethiopia beekeepers association. Ato Gebere Medhin Belay, vice president in the Ministry of Agriculture said, from the product of honey in Africa Ethiopia’s share is about 23% and 2% from the world honey products. According to Ato Gebere Medhin, the country produces more than 285,000 quintals of crude honey and more than 32,000 quintals of beeswax. The export of honey, beeswax is low both in quality and quantity although the country is endued with suitable plants and adequate water resources, Ato Gebere Medhin added. He said traditional development methods, shortage of skilled beekeepers, and

modernized technical equipment were the main causes for the low quality of honey and beeswax. To solve the problems and to promote the development of honey and beeswax the government has distributed a technololgy package on beekeeping in order to attract investors in the area, Ato Gebere Medhin added Ato Gebere Medhin further stated that curriculum on the products is ready to be designed in order to add a semester course of the products which is 4 hours a week in agricultural, technicual and vocational, training colleges. Ato Ayalew Kassaye, president of Ethiopian Beekeepers Association, said indiscriminate application of agrochemical, rapid deforestation of natural vegetation and ecological disturbances were among the major issues that are hindering the development of beekeeping. The association is composed of professionals, engaged in bee husbandry, research development work training processing and the marketing of honey bee products. He said the association is networking with sister organizations and societies and to support environmental protection and afforestation programs. The main objective of the association is to create a common forum to exchange experiences and views to promote the sub – sector to encourage apiculture research in different agricultural institution and to discuss and seek solution to various problems of the sub-sector. The Ethiopian Beekeepers association has 178 permanent and associate members.