The honey sector has recorded an increase in honey production from about 500,000 tonnes to 600,000 tonnes between 2009 and 2010 harvesting seasons representing a 20 per cent increase.

The increase has been supported by favourable weather pattern the country was experiencing especially in North-western, Western and Central provinces and production this year is anticipated to increase even further.

Zambia Honey Council (ZHC) programme manager Macdonald Kayuna said the council would continue with positive growth and would ensure that desired development was achieved.

He said in an interview that the other factor which had led to the increase in production was improved data capturing by the council in the past years.

Mr Kayuna said Zambia has the potential to meet the increasing demand of organic honey on export markets.

“The Zambian honey is among the best honey in the world, as you know it’s organically produced but the only problem our national bee-keepers have is lack of proper machinery,” he said.

He was, however, optimistic that the honey sector would benefit from the export markets especially under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Mr Kayuna said the council had embarked on a number of exercises that were aimed at creating a good business environment and provide more business opportunities for bee keepers.

He said that 95 per cent of bee keepers were traditional a fact he said had subjected them to the production of low quality honey to meet the international markets.

In a bid to meet international quality standards, the council embarked on a capacity building and service delivery programme.

TThis is also aimed at training farmers in production, quality management and market access.

He said 750 bee-keepers have been trained this year and that number of trained farmers stood at 8,000 the end of 2010 out of the targeted 15,000 keepers countrywide.

“The training will enhance production capacity, quality management, services delivery and therefore increasing market access and enable farmers to compete favorably on regional and international markets,” he said.

The training would be carried out in Mumbwa, Kaoma, Kapiri Mposhi, Kabompo, Mufumbwe and Lukulu districts among others.

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