Honey has a lot of economic and health values, making it a very lucrative agribusiness in many places around the world.
Beekeeping and honey business are potential job creation ventures in Ghana.
To promote safe honey for human consumption, the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (FORIG-CSIR) has organized a honey festival for beekeepers in the country.
Honey consumption has been increasing all over the world, but the safety of honey is not assessed and monitored regularly.
Honey is being adulterated in sophisticated ways making it more difficult to detect with known methods.
The festival is therefore meant to improve the safety of honey.
Dr. Courage Besah-Adanu is Research Scientist and Coordinator of the Ghana National Apiculture Platform.
“One of the things to do is to let them know adulteration is real and it’s a problem around the world.
“You cannot figure out if honey is pure or not unless the reputation of the source is genuine"
“If that stage is corrected, we can now track the honey as it moves to the next stage which is processing packaging and retailing points,” he said.
Ghana has the best climatic conditions suitable for beekeeping and honey production, yet the country imports honey.
Demand for honey is high, but Ghana is unable to meet demands. Experts say beekeeping and the honey industry are potential avenues for employment creation in Ghana.
“We import a lot of honey from other countries and this is creating problems. Meanwhile, all the vegetation zones are ripe for honey production.
“You need very little money to go into honey production. If we don’t correct the anomalies along the value chain you will put a lot of money into it and still struggle.
“That is why we are trying to mobilize them,” he noted.
Some bee keepers are however adding value to honey and bees to meet consumer demand.
Adelaide Newman, a bee keeper showcased her hair products and eye drops made with honey.
Another bee keeper, Paul Kwapong sells antibiotics made from bees.
Latest Stories
-
Miss USA Noelia Voigt resigns title on mental health grounds
6 mins -
Ama Sey blames me for her defeat in the NPP Primaries – Kate Gyamfua
8 mins -
Zenith Bank’s 2024 quarter one profit up 41%; boosted by loan, asset and deposit growth
8 mins -
Nana Ama Mcbrown to host Ghana to the World concert in USA
31 mins -
It’ll be good if Bawumia is elected President – Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs President
38 mins -
Anti-Gay bill: Supreme Court grants Richard Sky’s request to amend suit
39 mins -
Procurement chamber trains private contractors and suppliers on accurate tender procedures
45 mins -
Otumfuo’s words have been key – Kotoko forward Mukwala on team’s resurgence
48 mins -
We created a room for Botsio to be comfortable – Azamati on running third leg
52 mins -
EC’s limited voter registration got off slowly due to inadequate publicity – Otokunor
54 mins -
T-bills: Government borrowed GH¢15.60bn in April 2024
1 hour -
Two busted for attempting to smuggle 130 bags of cocoa beans to Togo
1 hour -
April 2024 inflation declines marginally to 25 percent
1 hour -
Ian Gelder: Game of Thrones actor who played Kevan Lannister dies aged 74
1 hour -
Current players of Kotoko do not deserve to play for the club – Augustine Ahinful
2 hours