12 Dec 2017

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Thapelo Olopeng says Botswana has been an importing country for a long time and continues to do so, even with so many skilled manpower and resources.

Speaking at a beekeeping and honey producers’ sector consultative meeting at Botswana National Youth Council in Gaborone recently, Minister Olopeng said Batswana had skills and resources to reduce thousands of tons of honey imports adding that honey and beekeeping sector comprised of passionate and determined youngsters.

Mr Olopeng noted that the meeting followed an interaction he had with some beekeepers on social media and others, who came to his office to share challenges they faced in their business.

He stated that the ministry was given the mandate of looking after young people and would like to take part in growing the honey and beekeeping industry.

He said the ministry wanted to meet them halfway by securing a place for processing and forming a coorporative.

Mr Olopeng said such would enable them to speak with one voice but noted that it was up to them to come up with a model on how to operate.

He said it was important for them to determine the capacity of their products hence consistent market process.

Beekeeping officer from Ministry of Agriculture, Ms Basetsana Seleke noted that they had trained a lot of people on beekeeping, yet there were no results.

She implored them to work together and show results.

Ms Seleke explained that beekeeping needed patience and passion because of the challenges associated.

However, she mentioned that they were so many products from beekeeping besides producing honey.

Also from Ministry of Agriculture and also founder of Matshwane consultancy, Mr Boatametse Dimetu pointed out that honey production in Botswana was very low at only five per cent compared to the 95 per cent imported.

He said he was pleased by the number of youth who turned up for the meeting since their involvement meant growth.

Beekeeping, he said was an art since one could provide bees or only produce queens.

Beekeepers expressed concern that they were struggling to find land to operate from.

They also stated that beekeeping was not for the faint hearted as it required one to be self-driven, passionate and committed. ENDS