The ManicaPost
Kudakwashe Chidziya Business Correspondent
CHININGU honey processing centre in Nyanga is now complete with over 1 005 farmers from 12 wards set to benefit from the project, Agritex head for Manicaland Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa has said.
“We are glad that Chiningu honey processing centre is complete and the official opening is on a date yet to be confirmed in June. “The centre will benefit apiculture farmers in Nyanga and we anticipate a total reach of more than 1 005 farmers. The processing centre will open vast opportunities for bee keepers who will just sell their raw honey locally and in bulk,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
The cooperative is made up of 40 farmers, 29 women and 11 men. It was initially funded by Environment Africa.
Through the progress project programme of International Rescue Committee (IRC), the centre was built to completion and the organisation then donated honey processing equipment as well.
Mrs Rwambiwa said the centre has been completed at the right time when the government was calling for devolution and value addition.
“In line with the President’s call for devolution and Government policy on value addition, the processing centre will help in empowering local farmers. The new processing centre has emerged as a lucrative market for bee keepers who will just sell their honey locally and it will improve their income since they will sell their honey in bulk which is more commercial,” she said.
Apart from exporting raw honey to neighbouring countries, the processing centre will export finished products which in turn raise export revenue for the country.
The processing centre also targets to be one of the leading suppliers of bee products like honey in local shops.
“Chiningu honey processing centre is expected to be more commercial as it is intended to meet the required market standards. The processed products will be sold at local supermarkets like TM, SPAR and OK,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
