National Apiculture Platform sees the day

A National Apiculture Platform, which will help in creating a greater regional awareness of the potential of the industry as well as lay emphasis on the importance of the domestic beekeeping industry, was launched on Wednesday during a workshop at Domaine Les Pailles in presence of the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security and Minister of Housing and Lands, Mahen Seeruttun and expert Dr Sarah Ossiya from Apiculture Development African Union-InterAfrica Bureau for Animal Resources.

The two-day workshop has as objective to address issues hindering the growth of honey production and devise action plans to trigger apiculture as a key sector in Mauritius. In his address, the Minister Mahen Seeruttun stated that it is high time for Mauritius to tap the potentials of the apiculture sector so as to promote sustainable agriculture and ensure food security.

He also underlines that in Mauritius, apiculture is practiced as a part-time activity and it has been by the presence of the ‘varroa’ mite and the small hive beetle. “Honey production has decreased significantly over the previous years. Consequently, Government has taken several initiatives to support beekeepers. These include training and capacity-building programmes carried out by international experts on beekeeping management for some 360 beekeepers.”

He also explained that the government is putting much emphasis on organic beehive and in this context, beekeeping kits comprising organic beehive, hat and veil, smoke and hive tool have been distributed to beekeepers in Mauritius and Rodrigues. “Bee reserve zones in Bras D’Eau, Black River, La Marie et La Ferme have also been set up in different regions to increase the productivity of honey.

I ask the beekeepers to adopt environmentally-smart agricultural practices and use organic techniques to generate high-quality products.” The project officer of the Apiculture Development African Union-InterAfrica Bureau for Animal Resources, Dr Sarah Ossiya, for her part, emphasised that the National Apiculture platform will create synergies among stakeholders of the sector, and will help increase their willingness to mobilize resources collectively for the production of honey. “Mauritius, like other African countries, should invest more in apiculture in order to access international markets,” she added.

Pesticide Bill

The Minister Mahen Seeruttun also revealed that in the coming days, a Pesticide Bill will be presented in parliament in order to regulate the use of pesticides products. This will also boost apiculture.