‘Zim needs more of Chimanimani honey’

22 Jul, 2022 - 00:07 0 Views
‘Zim needs more of Chimanimani honey’ Chimanimani honey is well-known for its good quality and Zimbabwe needs more of it

The ManicaPost

 

Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter

APICULTURE farmers in Chimanimani have been urged to take advantage of the Empower Bank and Women’s Microfinance Bank’s funding to upscale production.

Speaking during a Chimanimani District Seed Fair at Chaseyama in Chimanimani last week on Thursday, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Manicaland, Honourable Nokuthula Matsikenyere said beekeeping can be a strenuous job, especially if the honey farmer is not financially capacitated.

She urged farmers to take advantage of the two banks that were put in place by Government for purposes of providing social and financial solutions to the financially excluded population with a greater focus on youths and women.

“Empower yourselves as marginalised communities by applying for loans so that your farming ventures will improve.

“Once this is done and you use that financial support for the right purposes, the production of good quality honey will reach another level in Chimanimani.

“Chimanimani honey is well-known for its good quality and Zimbabwe needs more of it.

“We can only do that if we better capacitate our apiculture businesses. Take advantage of the platforms that Government has provided you with and acquire loans. Only then can we become a middle income economy by 2030,” she said.

Minister Matsikenyere said everyone has a duty to build the economy regardless of their job or social standing.

 

She commended apiculture farmers for their resilience and further applauded them for promoting environmental sustainability by taking up bee keeping.

“It is important to note that commercial bee keeping for honey production is now a Livelihoods Food and Security Programme as well as a Natural Resources Protection and Management Programme that promotes environmental sustainability.

“Our farmers, especially during this time of the season, should focus on nutritional gardens to produce a variety of horticultural products for nutrition enhancement.

“You can do this while using irrigation, it is the way to go as we struggle with climate change,” she said.

Honey producers in the district appealed to Government to capacitate them with proper beekeeping skills.

In an interview with Post Business, beekeeper Ms Primrose Mwareya said without training, beekeeping is a tiresome job.

“We need to be equipped with proper skills in beekeeping as most of us are not professionally trained. I believe that if we are trained, we will upscale our production and put Manicaland on the map,” she said.

Ms Mwareya thanked Government for the low interest micro-banks, saying they will take advantage of them and apply for financial support to enhance their apiculture farming.

Empower Bank is a registered deposit taking micro-bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

It was formed to provide social and financial solutions to the financially excluded population, with a greater focus on the youth.

On the other hand, the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank serves women of all ages.

The banks offer loans to youths and women-led businesses.

 

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