By: Igihe.com Reporter
Export opportunities await honey producers in Rwanda following the increasing demand of the country’s high quality honey on the international market.
According to the Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) Director General Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Rwanda honey is on high demand in big markets of the Middle East and Europe. “But the challenge is the low production volume”, he notes with concern.
In response to increasing export, quality Dr. Bagabe reveals that, “RBS has adopted a multiple-pronged approach aimed at ensuring compliance of Rwandan honey with international Standards”.
The Bureau has since offered training to local honey producers on the aspects of producing quality honey targeting the whole value chain. Currently RBS has certified five honey-processing companies and some are already exporting their products.
Dr. Bagabe advises farmers to opt for high volume beehives that would increase quantity of honey produced. During harvesting, farmers are advised to avoid using smoke (smoke contains a chemical dioxin) feared to be a cancer agent(carcinogenic).
Florida Uwamariya the Accounts administrator of Rwanda beekeeping services center has told Igihe.com, “Our sector has registered remarkable growth. Beekeepers are enjoying the fruits of their work and the sales volume has been ever increasing.”
Uwamariya notes that honey quality improved after farmers received training in methods of safe extraction, post harvest honey management and packaging. “We are looking at how we can maintain hygiene and quality honey processing and setting up scale processing equipment to upgrade the quality standards and produce”, she said.
The International demand for Rwanda honey is largely credited for its naturalness much of which comes from the country’s endowed forest and eco system. Uwamariya says that the demand for Rwanda honey is expected to boost incomes of women that are mainly involved in the honey sector.
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